Subject-verb agreement is one of the most important concepts to master in writing. It refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. When these two elements are not in agreement, the sentence may be incorrect and misunderstandings may occur. One of the best ways to practice and improve your subject-verb agreement skills is through the use of worksheets. In this article, we will discuss the rules of subject-verb agreement worksheets and provide tips on how to improve your writing skills.

Rule 1: Singular subjects require singular verbs.

When a subject is singular, the verb that follows it must also be singular. For example, „The boy runs to the store“ and „The girl sings in the choir“ are both examples of singular subjects paired with singular verbs. Singular subjects also need to be carefully identified, as sometimes they can be tricky to spot. For example, the subject „None of the students“ is technically singular, so the correct verb to use would be „is“.

Rule 2: Plural subjects require plural verbs.

When a subject is plural, the verb that follows it must also be plural. For example, „The boys run to the store“ and „The girls sing in the choir“ are both examples of plural subjects paired with plural verbs. Like singular subjects, plural subjects must be properly identified, as a collective noun like „team“ or „family“ can be considered singular or plural depending on the context of the sentence.

Rule 3: Compound subjects require plural verbs.

When two or more subjects are connected by „and“, the verb that follows must be plural. For example, „The dog and cat chase each other around the yard“ is an example of a compound subject paired with a plural verb. It`s essential to remember that all the subjects in the sentence must be plural for the verb to be plural.

Rule 4: Subjects connected by „or“ or „nor“ require the verb to agree with the closest subject.

When two or more subjects are connected by „or“ or „nor“, the verb that follows must agree with the closest subject. For example, „Neither the dog nor the cat want to go outside“ is an example of subjects connected by „nor“ with the closest subject, „cat,“ being singular. Therefore, the verb „want“ must be singular as well.

Rule 5: Collective nouns can be either singular or plural depending on the context of the sentence.

Collective nouns like „team“ or „family“ can be considered singular or plural depending on the context of the sentence. For example, „The team is losing the game“ is an example of a collective noun being considered singular, while „The team are arguing with each other“ is an example of a collective noun being considered plural.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial concept in writing, and worksheets provide an excellent way to practice and improve your skills. By following the rules outlined above, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and correctly reflects the meaning you intend to convey. By mastering subject-verb agreement, you will become a more effective communicator and a more successful writer.