What is Subject-Verb Agreement? Easy Rules for Correct Grammar in Every Sentence
Understand how subjects and verbs must match in number and person. Learn simple tricks to avoid common subject-verb agreement mistakes in your writing.
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means that the verb must match the subject in number (singular or plural) and person. This rule ensures grammatical correctness and clarity.
Examples
- Correct: She writes every day.
- Incorrect: She write every day.
- Correct: They write every day.
Common Rules
- Singular subjects take singular verbs (e.g., “The dog runs”).
- Plural subjects take plural verbs (e.g., “The dogs run”).
- Ignore prepositional phrases when identifying the subject (e.g., “The bouquet of flowers is beautiful”).
Tricky Cases
- Indefinite pronouns: “Everyone is ready,” not “Everyone are ready.”
- Compound subjects: “My brother and I are going.”
- Collective nouns: “The team is winning.”
Tips for Mastery
- Identify the true subject of the sentence before choosing the verb.
- Watch out for sentences with interruptions or prepositional phrases.
- Read sentences aloud to check for natural agreement.
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