Identify and correct errors with subject-verb agreement

Key Notes:

1. Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement

  • Subject-verb agreement means that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural).
    • Singular subject: Requires a singular verb.
    • Plural subject: Requires a plural verb.

2. Basic Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

  • Singular subjects take singular verbs:
    • Example: She runs every morning.
  • Plural subjects take plural verbs:
    • Example: They run every morning.

3. Identifying Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement

  • When the subject is a collective noun, the verb depends on whether the noun refers to a group acting as a unit (singular) or individual members (plural).
    • Singular: The team is playing well.
    • Plural: The team members are playing well.

4. Special Cases with Indefinite Pronouns

Some indefinite pronouns are always singular, while others are always plural:

  • Singular: everyone, someone, anybody, nobody, anything
    • Example: Everyone is invited to the party.
  • Plural: few, many, several
    • Example: Several are attending the meeting.

5. Compound Subjects

  • When two or more subjects are joined by “and”, the verb is usually plural:
    • Example: John and Mary are coming to the party.
  • When the subjects are joined by “or” or “nor”, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it:
    • Example: Either the teacher or the students are responsible for this task.
    • Example: Neither the students nor the teacher was aware of the change.

6. Errors with Intervening Phrases

  • Phrases between the subject and the verb do not affect the subject-verb agreement.
    • Example: The teacher, along with the students, is excited for the trip.

7. Using “There is” and “There are”

  • “There is” is used with singular nouns.
    • Example: There is a book on the table.
  • “There are” is used with plural nouns.
    • Example: There are books on the table.

8. Errors with “Each” and “Every”

  • “Each” and “every” are always singular, even if they refer to more than one person or thing.
    • Example: Each of the students has a different book.
    • Example: Every teacher is responsible for their class.

9. Correcting Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

  • Identify whether the subject is singular or plural.
  • Check the verb form to ensure it matches the subject’s number.
  • If necessary, rearrange sentences or adjust the verb form for consistency.

10. Practice Example

  • Incorrect: The dogs in the yard runs fast.
  • Correct: The dogs in the yard run fast.

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