Agreement with Singular and Plural Subjects Practice 1
Agreement in the English language pertains to the relationship between subjects and verbs. A subject is considered singular or plural depending on the number of individuals or things it entails. The verb in a sentence should agree with the subject in terms of number. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. This article will discuss some practice exercises to help you master the agreement between singular and plural subjects more effectively.
1. Identify the subject and the verb
The first step in ensuring agreement between a subject and a verb is to identify them. The subject of the sentence is the person, the thing, or the idea that the sentence talks about. The verb, on the other hand, is the action word that describes what the subject is doing. For example, in the phrase “The dog barks,” “the dog” is the subject, and “barks” is the verb. Identifying the subject and the verb in a sentence is crucial in knowing whether they agree in terms of number.
2. Determine the number of the subject
After identifying both the subject and the verb, determine whether the subject is singular or plural. A singular subject refers to one person or thing, and a plural subject refers to more than one person or thing. For example, the subject in “The girl runs” is singular, while the subject in “The girls run” is plural. Knowing whether the subject is singular or plural will help you in choosing the appropriate verb that agrees with it.
3. Match the subject with the correct verb
Once you have identified the subject, match it with the appropriate verb based on the number of the subject. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. For example, “The dog barks” is an example of an agreement between a singular subject and a singular verb. Meanwhile, “The dogs bark” exemplifies an agreement between a plural subject and a plural verb.
4. Practice exercises
To help you master agreement between singular and plural subjects, here are some practice exercises:
– The teacher _________ (teach/teaches) English to her students.
– The children ___________ (play/plays) in the park.
– The book on the shelf __________ (is/are) green.
– My friend and I ___________ (is/are) going to the movies.
– The horses ___________ (run/runs) fast.
The correct answers for the practice exercises are:
– The teacher teaches English to her students.
– The children play in the park.
– The book on the shelf is green.
– My friend and I are going to the movies.
– The horses run fast.
In conclusion, agreement between singular and plural subjects is an essential grammar rule in the English language. By following the steps mentioned in this article and practicing exercises, you can enhance your mastery of this rule to improve your writing skills.
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