Subject and Verb Agreement

Subject and Verb Agreement


Here is the next edition of the EzineArticles.com Article Writing: Paragraph and Grammar Structure Training Series.

1. Number Agreement: A singular subject takes a singular verb. A plural subject takes a plural verb.
   
   Example: This radio has six preset buttons. (singular)
   Example: Most radios have six preset buttons. (plural)
   
   
2. Person Agreement: A subject should also agree in "person" (1st person perspective, etc.) with its subject.
   
   Tip: This affects only 3rd person singular subjects in the present tense.
   Example: He runs to the store.
   Example: The table looks warped.
   
   Tip: Non 3rd Person Singular Subjects
   Example: I run to the store.
   Example: We run to the store.
   
   Tip: The verb "to be" is an auxiliary verb and has eight forms.
   
   1. Present Tense: am, is, are
      Example: I am hungry.
      Example: She is hungry.
      Example: We are hungry.
      
      
   2. Past Tense: was, were
      Example: I was hungry.
      Example: We were hungry.
      
      
   3. Infinitive, Past Participle & Present Participle: be, been, being
      Example: He has yet to be identified.
      Example: He had been mean to my sister.
      Example: He was being mean to my sister.

Hint: An agreement problem can sometimes occur when the verb of a sentence precedes the subject.

• Example: [Wrong] There was several writers waiting for their articles to be approved.
  
  
• Example: [Right] There were several writers waiting for their articles to be approved.

The next edition of the EzineArticles.com Article Writing: Paragraph and Grammar Structure Training Series will offer tips for proper use of commas and colons.