Subject & Verb Agreement Flashcards
(9 cards)
Subject-verb agreement
The subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number–meaning:
If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. The cat runs.
If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. The cats run.
Ex: The knight defends the castle.
Singular
Ex: The knights defend the castle.
Plural
When words come between subject and verb–ignore them
Ex: The captain, along with his soldiers, marches at dawn.
Subject-verb agreement
Subject joined by ‘or’/’nor’ verb agrees with the subject closer to it
Ex: Neither the guards nor the king was ready.
Ex: Neither the king nor the guards were ready.
Subject-verb agreement
Collective nouns (group, team, army, etc.) are usually singular
Ex: The army marches toward the border.
Subject-verb agreement
The collection of ancient swords is displayed in the royal armory.
Singular
Neither the scrolls nor the ancient book reveals the assassin’s identity.
Singular
The testimonies of the villagers, the merchants, and the soldiers were recorded carefully by the scribes.
Plural
