Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the principles of advanced subject-verb agreement, focusing on complex sentence structures and the use of noncount nouns. Understanding these concepts is essential for effective writing, as proper subject-verb agreement enhances clarity and professionalism in your work.

Step 1: Identify the Subject

• Determine the main subject of your sentence.
• For complex subjects, identify if they are singular or plural.
• Remember that subjects can be:
  • Simple (e.g., "The cat is sleeping.")
  • Compound (e.g., "The cat and dog are playing.")

Step 2: Determine the Verb Form

• Match the verb to the subject in number (singular or plural).
• Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
• Example:
  • Singular: "The team wins."
  • Plural: "The teams win."

Step 3: Handle Compound Subjects

• When subjects are joined by "and," use a plural verb.
  • Example: "My brother and sister are coming."
• When subjects are connected by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
  • Example: "Either the teacher or the students are responsible."

Step 4: Address Noncount Nouns

• Understand that noncount nouns (e.g., information, furniture, and advice) are treated as singular.
• Use singular verbs with noncount nouns.
  • Example: "The information is valuable."

Step 5: Recognize Indefinite Pronouns

• Some indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, each, anybody) are treated as singular.
  • Example: "Everyone loves a good story."
• Others (e.g., few, many, several) are plural.
  • Example: "Many were invited."

Step 6: Special Cases with Collective Nouns

• Collective nouns (e.g., team, committee) can be singular or plural depending on context.
  • Singular: "The team is winning."
  • Plural: "The team are arguing among themselves."

Conclusion

Mastering advanced subject-verb agreement requires understanding complex subjects, noncount nouns, and special cases such as collective nouns. By following these steps, you can improve your writing skills and ensure grammatical accuracy. As a next step, practice identifying subjects and matching them with the correct verbs in your writing. This will solidify your understanding and application of subject-verb agreement in various contexts.