subject verb agreement - what did the subject tell verb grammer based story
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The Subject Verb Agreement
Generally, there are two types of verbs in a sentence- finite and non-finite. Finite verbs are also known as the main verbs in the sentence. These directly relate to the subject of the sentence in terms of tense and number. All the other verbs in the sentence are non-finite verbs. Thus the non-finite verbs are mostly not in sync with the subject of the verb.
The subject-verb agreement states that the finite or the main verb of the sentence must agree with its subject in person as well as in number. For example,
Incorrect- We is studying English grammar on Toppr.
Correct- We are studying English grammar on Toppr.
Note that the agreement is in terms of person and number.
Subject Verb Agreement
Agreement in Person
The general cases that arise and the rules concerned are discussed as below:
I. When the sentence has different persons (irrespective of a noun or a pronoun), separated by an ‘and’, we should use the plural verb. For example:
Jake and Misha are siblings.
You, Pete and I are going to the woods.
II. In subject verb agreement when there are different persons in the subject of the sentence, separated by an ‘or’ or ‘nor’, the verb agrees in person with the word nearest to it. For example:
Neither she nor you are at fault.
Either David or I am going to the party.
Either Mich or he is at fault.
III. ‘Let us’ always takes a verb as the subject. For example:
Let us go out.
Let them sing the song.
IV. Kings and editors use ‘we’ for ‘I’ in their sentences and the verb agrees with this. For example:
We are going to publish this.
We work for the welfare of people.
V. The words ‘Your Honour’, ‘Your Majesty’ etc. take a singular verb. For example:
If Your Majesty wants……
VI. When in a sentence two different words are joined by ‘as well as’, the verb agrees with the first word. That is:
Dave, as well as I, is coming.
The students, as well as the teachers, were asked to vacate the room.
VII. If two words in the sentence are joined by ‘not only’……’but also’, subject verb agreement states that the verb agrees with the word nearest to it. For example:
Not only you, but also the teachers are also in opposition to this.
Not only we, but also our parents want us to win.
Agreement in Number
The general cases and the concerned rules are as follows:
I. When the subject is a collective noun, we use a singular verb if we view noun as a whole and a plural verb if we view the noun as a collection of individuals. For example:
The herd is moving towards the farm.
A number of the members of the team were absent.
II. The verb of the sentence should essentially agree with the subject of the sentence in number. For example:
He is playing well.
We are going for a vacation.
III. When there are two or more nouns separated by an ‘and’, we use a plural form of the verb. For example:
Misha and Rita are best friends.
Jack, Dale, and Morty are very naughty.
IV. The nouns that are separated by an ‘and’ but refer to the same person take a singular verb. For example:
The actor and director is in the office.
The great poet and writer has died.
Note: If the nouns were referring t0 different persons, they would have different articles. That is:
The actor and the director are in the office.
V. When to nouns joined by ‘and’ talk about a single collective idea, we use the singular verb. For example:
Bread and butter is a routine breakfast here.