In order that a subject and its verb agree,the basics principle to remember is this: a singular subject needs a singular verb, and plural subjects need plural verbs.The pronouns I and You are exceptions;they take the plural form of the verb.
gabriel,gabrielle the kids
believe believes believe
come comes come
Subject-verb agreement is generally taken into account only if in the present,present perfect,present progressive, or present perfect progressive tense. The verb is made singular by adding -s or -es. The rule is different when it comes to nouns,which form plural by adding -s or es.
The verbs to be and to have may also indicate whether a verb is singular or plural. They are constructed in a different manner.
Present Tense Singular Plural
I you he, we,you,
she,it they
to be am are is are
to have have have has have
Past Tense singular plural
I you he, we,you,
she,it they
to be was were was were
to have had had had had
These words are considered singular and take the singular form of the verb: anybody,anyone,each,either everybody,everyone,much,neither,no one,nobody,none,one somebody,someone.
example
everybody needs someone to love.
When the correlative conjunctions neither ....nor and either....or are used,the subject closer to the verb determines the form of the verb to be used.
example
Neither gabriel nor the boys are attending kenneth's birthday party.
These words are considered plural and take the plural form of the verb: both,few,many,several.
example
Many are called,but few are chosen.
A prepositional phrase that comes between a subject and its verb does not affect the subject-verb agreement.
The box of roses was bought in the nearby flower shop.
Glasses,pants,pliers,and scissors are considered plural unless the phrase pair of precedes them,in which case the word pair becomes the subject.
example
The pair of t-shirts is in the overnight bag.
Some words ending in -s are considered singular.
Some words ending in -s refer to only one thing but call for a plural verb.
My earnings have not increased since I started working in this company.
singular Plural
I,you he,she,it, we,you,theygabriel,gabrielle the kids
believe believes believe
come comes come
Subject-verb agreement is generally taken into account only if in the present,present perfect,present progressive, or present perfect progressive tense. The verb is made singular by adding -s or -es. The rule is different when it comes to nouns,which form plural by adding -s or es.
The verbs to be and to have may also indicate whether a verb is singular or plural. They are constructed in a different manner.
Present Tense Singular Plural
I you he, we,you,
she,it they
to be am are is are
to have have have has have
Past Tense singular plural
I you he, we,you,
she,it they
to be was were was were
to have had had had had
These words are considered singular and take the singular form of the verb: anybody,anyone,each,either everybody,everyone,much,neither,no one,nobody,none,one somebody,someone.
example
everybody needs someone to love.
When the correlative conjunctions neither ....nor and either....or are used,the subject closer to the verb determines the form of the verb to be used.
example
Neither gabriel nor the boys are attending kenneth's birthday party.
These words are considered plural and take the plural form of the verb: both,few,many,several.
example
Many are called,but few are chosen.
A prepositional phrase that comes between a subject and its verb does not affect the subject-verb agreement.
The box of roses was bought in the nearby flower shop.
Glasses,pants,pliers,and scissors are considered plural unless the phrase pair of precedes them,in which case the word pair becomes the subject.
example
The pair of t-shirts is in the overnight bag.
Some words ending in -s are considered singular.
Some words ending in -s refer to only one thing but call for a plural verb.
My earnings have not increased since I started working in this company.
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