Making Subjects and Verbs Agree
A singular subject needs a verb in the singular form, and a plural subject needs a verb in the plural form. Here are some basic examples of subject / verb agreement:
- Singular subject and singular verb:
- A famous actor comes to her restaurant once a month.
- Plural subject and plural verb:
- The public treats celebrities like kings and queens.
Compound Subjects
Two or more subjects connected with and are usually plural:
- The restaurant and the cinema are on the same street.
- Here come my mother and father.
An exception to this rule is if the compound subject is treated like a singular thing:
- Ham and swiss cheese is the most popular sandwich.
When compound subjects are connected with or, either / or, neither / nor, not only / but, the verb agrees with the closer subject:
- The director or the actors are going to give a speech.
- The actors or the director is going to give a speech.
Collective Nouns
- class
- family
- council
- team
- couple
- committee
- group
- audience
- crowd
Collective nouns are usually singular:
- The audience was quiet as the movie began.
- A group of doctors is traveling to the country next week.
Exercise
Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.