Subject Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is an important rule in English grammar that ensures that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number and person. This means that a singular subject should have a singular verb, and a plural subject should have a plural verb. Let's explore the concept of subject-verb agreement in detail, along with examples, common mistakes, and exceptions.

1. Basic Rule:
   • Singular subject + singular verb
   • Plural subject + plural verb

Examples:

• The dog barks loudly. (singular subject, singular verb)
• The cats meow in unison. (plural subject, plural verb)

1. Questions in Academics with Answers: a. Identify the correct subject-verb agreement in the following sentence: "The team _________ well-prepared for the championship." Answer: is (singular verb)b. Choose the appropriate subject-verb agreement: "Many of the students _________ excited about the field trip." Answer: are (plural verb)
2. Questions in SSC CGL Exams with Answers: a. Fill in the blank with the correct subject-verb agreement: "One of the books _________ missing from the shelf." Answer: is (singular verb)b. Choose the correct verb form: "Neither the students nor the teacher _________ happy with the test results." Answer: is (singular verb)
3. Daily Common Mistakes with Subject-Verb Agreement: a. Incorrect: The group of people was arguing. Correct: The group of people were arguing.b. Incorrect: Each of the apples were rotten. Correct: Each of the apples was rotten.
4. Things to Keep in Mind: a. Inverted word order: When a sentence begins with a negative word or phrase, the subject and verb should still agree. Example: Not only the students but also the teacher is attending the conference.b. Collective nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, committee) can take either a singular or plural verb depending on context. Example: The team is practicing (singular), but the team members are celebrating (plural).
5. Concepts to Understand: a. Indefinite pronouns: Some indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, anybody, nobody) are always singular and require a singular verb. Example: Everyone is responsible for their own actions.b. Compound subjects: When two subjects are joined by "and," the verb should be plural. Example: The dog and the cat are playing in the yard.
6. Exceptions in Subject-Verb Agreement: a. Singular subjects ending in "s": Certain singular nouns ending in "s" take a plural verb. Example: Mathematics is my favorite subject.b. Titles, names, and words representing quantities: These are usually considered singular and take a singular verb. Example: The United States is a powerful nation.

Remember that subject-verb agreement is crucial for maintaining grammatical correctness in your writing and speaking. Pay attention to the number and person of the subject to ensure a consistent agreement with the verb in your sentences.Practice various exercises and review these concepts regularly to strengthen your understanding of subject-verb agreement.