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Chapter 30 of 41

Subject–Verb Agreement

Make verbs agree across complex noun phrases, coordination, inversion, and pronouns.

40 minutes 10 quick checksBy Subha Prasad
Lesson 30 of 41Course navigation

Lesson content

Read, practise, then check your understanding

Present verbs and be forms agree with the grammatical subject. Find the head noun rather than a nearby noun inside a prepositional phrase. Coordination, collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, quantities, and there-constructions need special attention.

Patterns and examples

  • The list of items is complete.
  • Each of the students has a book.
  • Either the teachers or the principal is speaking.
  • There are two reasons.

Notice how form and meaning work together. Read examples aloud, identify the controlling word or clause, and compare them with nearby alternatives before applying the pattern in new writing.

Practice sentences

  • Correct five agreement errors.
  • Identify the head noun in a long subject phrase.

After answering, explain the rule in your own words and create one original sentence using the same structure.

Knowledge check

Answer every question correctly to complete this chapter.

Which explanation correctly describes agreement?
Which grammar term matches this explanation: Matching a present verb/be form with subject person and number.
Which explanation correctly describes head noun?
Which grammar term matches this explanation: The central noun controlling agreement within a noun phrase.
Which explanation correctly describes intervening phrase?
Which grammar term matches this explanation: Material between subject and verb that does not change the controller.
Which explanation correctly describes indefinite-pronoun agreement?
Which grammar term matches this explanation: Agreement chosen according to the number properties of forms such as each or several.
Which explanation correctly describes there-construction?
Which grammar term matches this explanation: A structure where agreement relates to the following notional subject.

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Subject–Verb Agreement | Grammar Lesson | Subha Prasad