Online Writing = Lab - Subject-Verb Agreement

OWL

Online = Writing=20 Lab home

GRAMMAR
Sentence=20 Construction
Sentences<= /A>
Sentences-Core=20 Parts
Fragments<= /A>
Run-ons<= /LI>
Comma = Splices
Subject= -Verb=20 Agreement
Pronoun= -Antecedent=20 Agreement
Parts = of=20 Speech
Nouns
Pronouns
Adjectives=20 & Adverbs
Conjunc= tions
Verbs
Preposi= tions=20 & Phrases
Clauses<= /LI>

<= STRONG>PUNCTUATION
Apostrop= hes
Comm= a=20 Placement
Semi-Colo= ns
Colons

Learning Center

Learning = Center=20 Home

DYC Links

Subject-Verb Agreement

**Note: This section will only make sense if you are able to = identify a=20 subject and a verb. If you are unable to do so, click on instructions = for=20 subjects and verbs.

What is subject-verb agreement?: Subject-verb agreement refers to ensuring that singular subjects = have=20 singular verbs, and plural subjects have plural verbs. This is called=20 agreement in number, and it refers specifically to verbs in the = present tense.=20

When I write a sentence, how can I make sure the subject agrees with = the=20 verb?

Identify your subject, and then ask yourself, "Is my subject singular = or=20 plural?" Then identify your verb and ask yourself, "Is my verb singular = or=20 plural?" If they are both the same, you have subject- verb agreement. If = they=20 aren't, you have subject-verb disagreement and must change either your = subject=20 or your verb so that both are singular or both are plural.

Since the verb is usually right next to the subject, why would = anyone make a=20 subject-verb agreement error?

When the verb immediately follows the subject (such as in the = sentence "He=20 climbs the tree"), it is easy to have subject verb agreement. Sometimes, = though,=20 there is a clause or a phrase between the subject and the verb, and then = it is=20 easy to make a subject-verb agreement error. In fact, sometimes even = when the=20 subject agrees with the verb, it sounds incorrect because of the = position of=20 other words.

HOT GRAMMAR TIP

Generally speaking, regular verbs that are singular take an "s" at = the end=20 while plural verbs do not. Examples: She jumps rope. He studies hard. = It=20 stays the same. You may want to keep this in mind while proofreading = your=20 sentences in your own essays to see if you have subject-verb agreement=20 errors.

Example #1 (Subject-Verb=97disagreement)

The dirty dishes sitting in the kitchen sink needs to be = washed.=20

Example #1 (Corrected)

The dirty dishes sitting in the kitchen sink need to be=20 washed.

Reasoning: The original sentence (Example #1) contains a plural = subject=20 (dishes) and a singular verb (needs). Again, the singular noun (sink)=20 immediately preceding the singular verb (needs) might lead the writer to = mistakenly believe that the subject is "sink," and, thus, select a = singular=20 verb.

Exercise=20 1 | Exercise=20 2