Subject Verb Agreement Rules

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 6 views

Subject Verb Agreement Worksheets: Mastering the Fundamentals of English Grammar

Subject verb agreement is a fundamental concept in English grammar that can be challenging for many students to grasp. It is essential to understand the rules of subject verb agreement to communicate effectively and accurately in writing and speaking. In this article, we will provide you with 30 difficult subject verb agreement worksheets to help you master this crucial aspect of English grammar.

What is Subject Verb Agreement?

Subject verb agreement refers to the relationship between a subject and its corresponding verb in a sentence. The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action described by the verb. In a sentence, the subject and verb must agree in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). For example:

Singular subject: "The cat sleeps." (The subject "cat" is singular, and the verb "sleeps" is also singular.)
Plural subject: "The cats sleep." (The subject "cats" is plural, and the verb "sleep" is also plural.)

Why is Subject Verb Agreement Important?

Subject verb agreement is essential in English grammar because it helps to convey meaning and avoid confusion. When the subject and verb do not agree, the sentence can be ambiguous or even nonsensical. For example:

"The team are going to the championship." (Incorrect - The subject "team" is singular, but the verb "are" is plural.)
"The students is going to the library." (Incorrect - The subject "students" is plural, but the verb "is" is singular.)

Subject Verb Agreement Rules

To master subject verb agreement, you need to understand the following rules:

Singular subjects: When the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. For example: "The cat sleeps."
Plural subjects: When the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. For example: "The cats sleep."
Collective nouns: Collective nouns, such as "team" or "family," can be either singular or plural, depending on the context. For example: "The team is going to the championship." (Singular) or "The team are going to the championship." (Plural)
Indefinite pronouns: Indefinite pronouns, such as "someone" or "anyone," are always singular. For example: "Someone is going to the store."
Relative clauses: Relative clauses, such as "who" or "which," can be either singular or plural, depending on the context. For example: "The book, which is on the table, is mine." (Singular) or "The books, which are on the table, are mine." (Plural)

Subject Verb Agreement Worksheets

Here are 30 difficult subject verb agreement worksheets to help you master this crucial aspect of English grammar:

Singular Subjects

The student ____________________ (be) going to the library.
The teacher ____________________ (be) very kind to the students.
The book ____________________ (be) on the table.
The city ____________________ (have) a population of over 1 million people.
The company ____________________ (be) founded in 1990.

Plural Subjects

The students ____________________ (be) going to the library.
The teachers ____________________ (be) very kind to the students.
The books ____________________ (be) on the table.
The cities ____________________ (have) a population of over 1 million people.
The companies ____________________ (be) founded in 1990.

Collective Nouns

The team ____________________ (be) going to the championship.
The family ____________________ (have) a big house.
The group ____________________ (be) very talented.
The committee ____________________ (make) a decision.
The board ____________________ (meet) every week.

Indefinite Pronouns

Someone ____________________ (be) going to the store.
Anyone ____________________ (be) able to help me.
Something ____________________ (be) wrong with the machine.
Anything ____________________ (be) better than nothing.
Nobody ____________________ (be) home.

Relative Clauses

The book, which ____________________ (be) on the table, is mine.
The books, which ____________________ (be) on the table, are mine.
The city, which ____________________ (have) a population of over 1 million people, is very crowded.
The companies, which ____________________ (be) founded in 1990, are very successful.
The students, who ____________________ (be) going to the library, are very quiet.

Mixed Subjects

The students and the teachers ____________________ (be) going to the library.
The book and the magazine ____________________ (be) on the table.
The city and the town ____________________ (have) a population of over 1 million people.
The companies and the organizations ____________________ (be) founded in 1990.
The students and the faculty ____________________ (be) going to the conference.

Subject verb agreement is a fundamental concept in English grammar that can be challenging for many students to grasp. By understanding the rules of subject verb agreement and practicing with difficult worksheets, you can master this crucial aspect of English grammar and communicate effectively and accurately in writing and speaking. Remember to always check your subject verb agreement to ensure that your sentences are clear and concise.

Additional Resources

If you want to practice more subject verb agreement worksheets, you can find additional resources online or in grammar books. Some popular resources include:

Grammarly: A popular online grammar checker that can help you identify and correct subject verb agreement errors.
Khan Academy: A free online learning platform that offers video lessons and practice exercises on subject verb agreement.
Purdue Online Writing Lab: A comprehensive online resource that provides guidance on subject verb agreement and other grammar topics.

By practicing with these worksheets and resources, you can improve your subject verb agreement skills and become a more confident and effective writer and speaker.
Subject Verb Agreement Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Subject verb agreement is a fundamental concept in English grammar that can be challenging for many students to grasp. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about subject verb agreement to help you better understand this crucial aspect of English grammar.

Q1: What is subject verb agreement?

A1: Subject verb agreement refers to the relationship between a subject and its corresponding verb in a sentence. The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action described by the verb. In a sentence, the subject and verb must agree in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).

Q2: Why is subject verb agreement important?

A2: Subject verb agreement is essential in English grammar because it helps to convey meaning and avoid confusion. When the subject and verb do not agree, the sentence can be ambiguous or even nonsensical.

Q3: What are the rules of subject verb agreement?

A3: To master subject verb agreement, you need to understand the following rules:

Singular subjects: When the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. For example: "The cat sleeps."
Plural subjects: When the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. For example: "The cats sleep."
Collective nouns: Collective nouns, such as "team" or "family," can be either singular or plural, depending on the context. For example: "The team is going to the championship." (Singular) or "The team are going to the championship." (Plural)
Indefinite pronouns: Indefinite pronouns, such as "someone" or "anyone," are always singular. For example: "Someone is going to the store."
Relative clauses: Relative clauses, such as "who" or "which," can be either singular or plural, depending on the context. For example: "The book, which is on the table, is mine." (Singular) or "The books, which are on the table, are mine." (Plural)

Q4: How do I identify the subject of a sentence?

A4: To identify the subject of a sentence, look for the noun or pronoun that performs the action described by the verb. The subject can be a single word, a phrase, or a clause.

Q5: What are some common mistakes in subject verb agreement?

A5: Some common mistakes in subject verb agreement include:

Using a plural verb with a singular subject: For example: "The team are going to the championship." (Incorrect - The subject "team" is singular, but the verb "are" is plural.)
Using a singular verb with a plural subject: For example: "The students is going to the library." (Incorrect - The subject "students" is plural, but the verb "is" is singular.)
Using a collective noun as a singular subject: For example: "The team are going to the championship." (Incorrect - The subject "team" is a collective noun, but it is being used as a singular subject.)

Q6: How can I practice subject verb agreement?

A6: You can practice subject verb agreement by:

Using online resources: Websites such as Grammarly, Khan Academy, and Purdue Online Writing Lab offer interactive exercises and quizzes to help you practice subject verb agreement.
Reading and writing: Read and write sentences that require subject verb agreement to practice your skills.
Using worksheets: Use worksheets and exercises to practice subject verb agreement in a variety of contexts.

Q7: What are some advanced topics in subject verb agreement?

A7: Some advanced topics in subject verb agreement include:

Using relative clauses: Relative clauses, such as "who" or "which," can be either singular or plural, depending on the context.
Using collective nouns: Collective nouns, such as "team" or "family," can be either singular or plural, depending on the context.
Using indefinite pronouns: Indefinite pronouns, such as "someone" or "anyone," are always singular.

Subject verb agreement is a fundamental concept in English grammar that can be challenging for many students to grasp. By understanding the rules of subject verb agreement and practicing with exercises and worksheets, you can master this crucial aspect of English grammar and communicate effectively and accurately in writing and speaking. Remember to always check your subject verb agreement to ensure that your sentences are clear and concise.

Additional Resources

If you want to practice more subject verb agreement exercises and worksheets, you can find additional resources online or in grammar books. Some popular resources include:

Grammarly: A popular online grammar checker that can help you identify and correct subject verb agreement errors.
Khan Academy: A free online learning platform that offers video lessons and practice exercises on subject verb agreement.
Purdue Online Writing Lab: A comprehensive online resource that provides guidance on subject verb agreement and other grammar topics.

By practicing with these resources and exercises, you can improve your subject verb agreement skills and become a more confident and effective writer and speaker.