Subject-verb agreement refers to the grammatical rule that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. Correct subject-verb agreement is important for clear and effective communication.

Below are some examples of subject-verb agreement with pictures to help illustrate the concept.

1. Singular subject and verb

In this example, the subject is “dog” and the verb is “barks.” Since “dog” is a singular noun, the verb must also be singular.

2. Plural subject and verb

In this example, the subject is “cats” and the verb is “meow.” Since “cats” is a plural noun, the verb must also be plural.

3. Compound subject and verb

Sometimes a sentence may have a compound subject made up of two or more nouns. In this example, the compound subject is “apples and oranges” and the verb is “are.” Since the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.

4. Indefinite pronoun subject and verb

Indefinite pronouns such as “everyone,” “someone,” and “anyone” are singular and require a singular verb. In this example, the subject is “everyone” and the verb is “likes.”

5. Collective noun subject and verb

Collective nouns such as “team,” “family,” and “group” can be singular or plural depending on the context. In this example, the collective noun “family” is the subject of the sentence, and the verb “is” agrees with the singular form of the noun.

6. Interrogative subject and verb

In interrogative sentences, the subject and verb may be reversed. In this example, the verb “is” comes before the subject “she,” but still agrees in number with the singular subject.

7. Inverted subject and verb

Similarly, in sentences that begin with a negative adverb or phrase, the subject and verb may be inverted. In this example, the verb “does” comes before the singular subject “he,” and agrees in number.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an important grammatical rule to ensure clear and effective communication. By understanding and practicing correct subject-verb agreement, you can improve the clarity and professionalism of your writing.