Belajar TOEFL dari Dasar: Subject and Verb Agreement PART 2 (Day 2)

Introduction

This tutorial focuses on Subject and Verb Agreement, a crucial aspect of English grammar that is essential for success in tests like TOEFL, TOEIC, and IELTS. Understanding how subjects and verbs must agree in number and tense will help you improve your writing and speaking skills in English.

Step 1: Understand Subject-Verb Agreement

• Subjects and verbs must agree in number (singular or plural).
• If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular.
• If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

Examples

• Singular: The cat runs fast.
• Plural: The cats run fast.

Common Pitfalls

• Be cautious of phrases that separate the subject and the verb. The verb should agree with the main subject, not with a noun in the phrase.
  • Example: The box of chocolates is on the table (not "are").

Step 2: Identify Singular and Plural Subjects

• Singular subjects: A single person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., he, she, it, a dog).
• Plural subjects: More than one person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., they, dogs, children).

Practice Identifying

• Look at sentences and identify the subject. Determine if it is singular or plural.
• Example: "The teacher and the student are in the classroom." (Both "teacher" and "student" are singular, but together they are plural.)

Step 3: Special Cases in Subject-Verb Agreement

• Collective nouns: Words that represent a group (e.g., team, family) can be singular or plural depending on context.

  • Example: The team wins the game (singular); The team are arguing among themselves (plural).

• Indefinite pronouns: Some pronouns (e.g., everyone, each) are always singular.

  • Example: Everyone is invited to the party.

• Compound subjects: Joined by 'and' are usually plural.

  • Example: My brother and sister are coming over.

Step 4: Practice with Exercises

• Create sentences using different subjects and verbs, ensuring they agree.
• Use online quizzes or worksheets focusing on subject-verb agreement to reinforce your understanding.

Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement is vital for achieving a high score in English language tests. Regular practice and attention to detail in identifying subjects will improve your grammar skills significantly. For further learning, consider reviewing additional resources or taking grammar-focused courses. Keep practicing, and you'll see improvement in your English proficiency!