Subject Verb Agreement: ELA Lesson from a Third Grade Teacher covering common core standards
Subject-verb agreement, also known as “subject-verb concord,” ensures that the subject and verb of a sentence match in tense, aspect, and mood, which in simpler terms means they agree in number, person, and sometimes gender.
English, unlike some languages, does not generally use grammatical gender except for pronouns. For most verbs in English, subject-verb agreement is primarily about quantity: if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. For example:
Singular subject: The dog rolls in the mud.
Plural subject: The dogs roll in the mud.
However, there are exceptions and specific rules, particularly when dealing with third-person singular subjects. In the present tense, most verbs add an -s to the base form for third-person singular subjects:
Singular subject: She needs to catch her breath.
Singular subject with verb ending in -x, –ss, –sh, –ch, –tch, or –zz: My snake hisses to say “I love you.”
Singular subject with verb ending in consonant + y: Atlas carries the world on his shoulders.
Singular subject with verb ending in vowel + y: My roommate stays in his bedroom from morning to night.
The verb "be" is unique in that it changes significantly based on the person:
First person singular: I am
Second person singular: You are
Third person singular: He/she/it is
First person plural: We are
Second person plural: You are
Third person plural: They are
These notes are crucial for understanding and applying subject-verb agreement correctly, especially since "be" is not only used for existence but also as an auxiliary verb in continuous tenses.
In the simple past and simple future tenses, verbs do not change based on the number or person of the subject:
Simple future with plural subject: They will be here tomorrow.
Simple future with singular subject: He will be here tomorrow.
Simple past with plural subject: The potatoes grew overnight!
Simple past with singular subject: The potato grew overnight!
The main exception in the simple past tense is the verb "be," which changes between "was" (singular) and "were" (plural).
In perfect tenses, the auxiliary verb changes based on the number of the subject:
Plural subject: They have not seen the movie yet, so no spoilers.
Singular subject: She has not seen the movie yet, so no spoilers.
While these guidelines cover the basics of subject-verb agreement in English, there are more specific rules for certain situations that can be more complex. Understanding these rules will help ensure clear and grammatically correct communication in writing and speaking.
