Language Arts OverviewVerbs must agree with their subjects in both number and person. When the subject and the verb agree in number, a singular subject is paired with a singular verb, or a plural subject is paired with a plural verb. A subject that is an indefinite pronoun, like everyone or no one, must also agree in number with its verb. With most verbs, the only change in form to indicate agreement in person occurs in the present tense. Consider the following sentence. She speaks. In this example, an -s is added to the base form, speak, to agree in person with the third-person singular pronoun she. Sometimes, locating the subject in a sentence can be tricky. Remember that the subject is never within a prepositional phrase. Also, predicate nominatives do not affect the number of a linking verbonly the subject affects the number of a linking verb. Here are some rules to remember when determining the number of a subject.
Compound subjects joined by and or both…and are plural unless its parts belong to tne unit or the parts both refer to the same person or thing. Compound subjects joined by or, nor, either…or, or neither…nor always agree with the subject nearest to the verb. In simple sentences, subject-verb agreement is usually clear. However, achieving subject-verb agreement can be difficult when using inverted sentences (sentences in which the subject follows the verb) or compound or complex sentences. Rearrange inverted sentences so that the subject comes before the verb, or try diagraming the sentence by breaking it into its parts to determine the proper subject-verb agreement. Log InThe resource you requested requires you to enter a username and password below: | ||