Subject-verb agreement
Basic rules we want to know before we write anything in English :
Person | Singular | Plural |
First-person | I | We |
Second person | You | You |
Third-person | He, She and It | They |
1) First-person singular and verb:
The first-person singular always represents "I". If we have I in a sentence they the basic form of the verb remains constant.
Examples: I want water
2)Second person singular and verb agreement:
It always represents "You". If we have you in the sentence then we don't want to change the basic form of the verb.
Example: I think You need water
3) Third Person Singular:
It denotes He, She, and It. If we have He, She, and It, in the sentence then we have to add "s" to the verb.
Example: He writes neatly
Singular | Verb |
I | Need |
You | Need |
He | Needs |
She | Needs |
It | Needs |
From the above tabular column, you can see the difference in how a basic form of the verb (Need) changes, according to the singular subject
4) First Person Plural:
It denotes "we". If we have "we" as a subject in the sentence, then no need to change the basic form of the verb.
Example: We think it's right
5) Second person Plural:
It indicates "You". If we have "You" as a subject in the sentence then there is no change in the basic form of the verb.
Example: You sleep well
6) Third-person Plural:
It indicates "They". If we have "They" as a subject, then we don't want to change anything in the basic form of the verb.
Example: They need some air
Plural | Verb |
We | Need |
You | Need |
They | Need |
From the above tabular column, you can see the difference in how a basic form of the verb (Need) changes, according to the Plural subject
7) If we have a singular Subject in the present tense, then the verb should be in the singular present form. So we should use, ies, es and s.
Example :
- The teacher teaches the subject = the teacher is a singular subject, so we have to add "es" to the end of the verb. so the basic form of the verb teach changes into teaches
- The child cries for the chocolates = The child is a singular subject, we have to add "ies" instead of y. So the basic form of the verb cry changes into cries.
8) By adding "s" in the subject then it is called Plural subject
Example: The cats are very beautiful
9) By adding "s" in the verb, then it is called singular verb
Example: He wants icecream
10) If we have "Everyone" in the sentence then the verb should be in the singular
Examples: Everyone is important in our life
11) For collective noun we have to use a singular verb
Example: The Jury has given its verdict
12) Words like Scenery, Information, Furniture, Hair, Luggage, Advice, Alphabet, money, time etc., we have to use a singular verb
Example: Money is everything
13) If the two positions represent the same person then we have to use a singular verb.
Example: The correspondent and Principal has called parents
Here both post (correspondent and principal) represent the same person so we have to use a singular verb which is has
14) If the two positions represent two different people then we have to use a plural verb.
Example: The correspondent and the Principle are attending a meeting.
Here before the post, the article (the) is there, so we can differentiate that both posts belong to two different people.
15) If the sentence has or, nor, either then the verb should be in a singular form. But if there is a number of the varying verb then it agrees with the second noun.
Example: Aadhar card or ration card is a must for getting a ticket
16) If the sentence has "as well as", "with", "along with" then the verb agrees with the first noun.
Examples: The music, as well as dance, was done by the producer
Click the below link to test your level in "Parts of Speech"
