GRAMMAR + LANGUAGE
Module 1 : Subject - Verb Agreement
Verbs can be of 2 types : action words or conditional verbs.
- Conditional verbs signify a condition or state of being.
Like : is, are, am, was, were, been, being, to be.
- In action words, the person doing the action is called the subject.
Rule 1 :
The subject and the verb should either both be singular or both be plural.
Example - The man snores loudly.
The men snore loudly.
Exercise I :
Check whether the verbs agree with the subject -
1. Pollution and degradation of the environment is, according to the commission's open report, a
matter of universal concern.
Subject -
Verb -
Do they agree?
, 2. Although a surge in sales have raised hopes that a recovery is finally underway, many
economists say that without a large amount of spending, the recovery may not last.
Subject -
Verb -
Do they agree?
3. My chief concern with this budget and the other proposals in the table are the cuts in school
funds.
Subject -
Verb -
Do they agree?
4. Juggling the demands of both my work and family life often seem too much to bear.
Subject -
Verb -
Do they agree?
5. A good SAT score, an impressive personal profile, and a persuasive essay, the relative
importance of which differ from institute to institute, are all key elements in the admission
process.
Subject -
Verb -
Do they agree?
Module 1 : Subject - Verb Agreement
Verbs can be of 2 types : action words or conditional verbs.
- Conditional verbs signify a condition or state of being.
Like : is, are, am, was, were, been, being, to be.
- In action words, the person doing the action is called the subject.
Rule 1 :
The subject and the verb should either both be singular or both be plural.
Example - The man snores loudly.
The men snore loudly.
Exercise I :
Check whether the verbs agree with the subject -
1. Pollution and degradation of the environment is, according to the commission's open report, a
matter of universal concern.
Subject -
Verb -
Do they agree?
, 2. Although a surge in sales have raised hopes that a recovery is finally underway, many
economists say that without a large amount of spending, the recovery may not last.
Subject -
Verb -
Do they agree?
3. My chief concern with this budget and the other proposals in the table are the cuts in school
funds.
Subject -
Verb -
Do they agree?
4. Juggling the demands of both my work and family life often seem too much to bear.
Subject -
Verb -
Do they agree?
5. A good SAT score, an impressive personal profile, and a persuasive essay, the relative
importance of which differ from institute to institute, are all key elements in the admission
process.
Subject -
Verb -
Do they agree?
