Subject-Verb Agreement in English

Anna: Tom loves reading books.

Ben: Yes, and his sister enjoys stories too!

Anna: Oh, I see. They love adventure novels.

Ben: Exactly! Also, my brother likes mystery books.

Anna: Interesting! I like fantasy books. What about you?

Ben: I prefer history books.

Tom loves reading books.

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

In English, the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. This means:

• A singular subject needs a singular verb.

• A plural subject needs a plural verb.

Basic Rules

1. Singular subjects take singular verbs

   • He runs fast.

   • She enjoys music.

   • My dog barks at strangers.

2. Plural subjects take plural verbs

   • They run every morning.

   • The children play outside.

   • My friends love watching movies.

3. Subjects with "and" are plural

   • Tom and Jerry are best friends.

   • My mom and dad work in a hospital.

4. Subjects with "or" or "nor" match the closest noun

   • Either the teacher or the students are coming.

   • Neither the boys nor their sister is at home.

5. Uncountable nouns take singular verbs

   • Water is important.

   • Music makes me happy.

6. Collective nouns may take singular or plural verbs

   • The team is winning. (as one unit)

   • The team are celebrating. (as individuals)

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct verb:

1. She _____ (love/loves) chocolate.

2. The dogs _____ (bark/barks) at night.

3. My family _____ (is/are) big.

4. Either the cat or the dog _____ (need/needs) food.

5. The students _____ (study/studies) hard.

Try these exercises and check your answers!

Final Tips

• Always identify the subject first.

• If unsure, replace the subject with "he/she/it" (singular) or "they" (plural) to see which verb sounds right.

• Practice by reading and listening to English daily.

Happy learning!