Subject-verb agreement is an essential grammatical concept that students need to master early on. It refers to the concord between the subject and verb in a sentence. In other words, the verb must agree with the subject in number (singular or plural). As a professional, I’ve put together this article on the rules of subject-verb agreement for class 6.
1. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Example:
The cat chases the mouse. (singular subject and verb)
The cats chase the mice. (plural subject and verb)
2. In sentences with compound subjects joined by “and,” use a plural verb.
Example:
John and Mary play soccer every Sunday. (compound subject and plural verb)
3. When a sentence has a compound subject joined by “or” or “nor,” use the verb that agrees with the nearest subject.
Example:
Neither the teacher nor the students are happy about the test results. (compound subject and plural verb)
4. In sentences with collective nouns, use a singular verb when referring to the group as a whole.
Example:
The team is playing well this season. (collective noun and singular verb)
5. When a collective noun refers to individual members of the group, use a plural verb.
Example:
The team are celebrating their victory. (collective noun and plural verb)
6. In sentences with indefinite pronouns (such as everybody, somebody, anyone, etc.), use a singular verb.
Example:
Everyone likes chocolate. (indefinite pronoun and singular verb)
7. In sentences with words that indicate a specific amount or quantity (such as many, a few, some, etc.), use a plural verb.
Example:
Many students are attending the school dance. (specific amount and plural verb)
8. When using words like “each” or “every,” use a singular verb.
Example:
Each of the girls is bringing a dish to the potluck. (each and singular verb)
In conclusion, understanding the rules of subject-verb agreement is crucial for ensuring clear and effective communication. By mastering these rules, class 6 students will be on their way to becoming better writers and communicators.