Subject-verb agreement is an essential grammar rule that ensures that the subject and the verb in a sentence are properly matched in terms of the number. It is crucial for effective communication, and it can improve your writing skills significantly. In this article, you will find a variety of proper subject-verb agreement examples that will help you understand this grammar rule better.

Singular Subject with Singular Verb

When the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb must also be singular. Here are a few examples of sentences with singular subjects and singular verbs:

– The cat eats fish.

– The dog barks loudly.

– The bird sings melodiously.

In each of these cases, the singular subject (cat, dog, bird) is accompanied by a singular verb (eats, barks, sings).

Plural Subject with Plural Verb

Similarly, when the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb must be plural. Here are a few examples of sentences with plural subjects and plural verbs:

– The students study hard.

– The books are on the shelf.

– The flowers bloom in the spring.

In each of these cases, the plural subjects (students, books, flowers) are accompanied by plural verbs (study, are, bloom).

Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects

When a sentence has more than one subject, it is called a compound subject. In this case, the verb should match the number of the compound subject. Here are a few examples of sentences with compound subjects:

– The dog and the cat are playing in the yard.

– The teacher and the students are discussing the lesson.

– The singer and the guitarist are performing a duet.

In each of these cases, the compound subjects (dog and cat, teacher and students, singer and guitarist) are accompanied by plural verbs (are playing, are discussing, are performing).

Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns (like everyone, somebody, nobody, etc.) can be difficult to match with the verb because they are neither singular nor plural. Here are a few examples of sentences with indefinite pronouns:

– Everyone should bring their own lunch.

– Nobody knows the answer to that question.

– Somebody left their hat on the table.

In each of these cases, the indefinite pronouns are treated as singular subjects and are accompanied by singular verbs (should bring, knows, left).

Conclusion

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential grammar rule that you need to master to improve your writing skills. Remember to match singular subjects with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs. Use plural verbs with compound subjects, and treat indefinite pronouns as singular subjects. With these proper subject-verb agreement examples, you should be able to identify and correct any subject-verb agreement errors in your writing.