Plural subject with plural verb

Definition

A plural subject with a plural verb refers to the grammatical agreement where the subject of a sentence is plural and is matched with a verb that is also in its plural form. This agreement is crucial for maintaining clarity and coherence in writing, as it ensures that the subject and verb work together to convey the intended meaning of the sentence.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In English, a plural subject typically ends in 's' or 'es,' while the corresponding plural verb often drops the 's' found in its singular form.
2. Common examples of plural subjects include words like 'dogs,' 'cats,' and 'students,' which all require plural verbs to match.
3. When using compound subjects joined by 'and,' the subject is considered plural, necessitating a plural verb.
4. In some cases, even when a collective noun (like 'team' or 'group') appears as a singular entity, it may still be treated as plural if the emphasis is on the individual members acting separately.
5. Subject-verb agreement can be affected by phrases that separate the subject from the verb; these phrases do not change the number of the subject.

Review Questions

• How does understanding the concept of plural subjects with plural verbs help in constructing grammatically correct sentences?
  • Understanding plural subjects with plural verbs helps in constructing grammatically correct sentences by ensuring that subjects and verbs agree in number. When writing, this knowledge allows you to create clear and coherent statements where both elements align properly. For example, knowing that 'the dogs bark' is correct because both the subject 'dogs' and the verb 'bark' are plural enhances your overall writing accuracy.
• What are some common pitfalls to avoid when using plural subjects with plural verbs in complex sentences?
  • Common pitfalls when using plural subjects with plural verbs include misidentifying the subject due to intervening phrases or incorrectly treating collective nouns as singular. For instance, when a sentence contains phrases like 'along with' or 'as well as,' they can distract from identifying the true subject. It's essential to focus on the main subject for agreement; for example, in 'The team of players are winning,' it's better to say 'The team of players is winning' since 'team' is a collective noun treated as singular.
• Evaluate how cultural or regional variations might impact the use of plural subjects with plural verbs in English.
  • Cultural or regional variations can significantly impact how plural subjects with plural verbs are used, particularly with collective nouns. In American English, collective nouns are typically treated as singular (e.g., 'The team wins'), whereas British English may treat them as plural ('The team win'). This difference reflects broader linguistic trends influenced by regional dialects and cultural norms. Being aware of these variations is important for effective communication, especially in multicultural settings where different English standards may apply.

Related terms

Subject-Verb Agreement: The grammatical rule that states that subjects and verbs must agree in number; singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs.

Singular Subject: A subject that denotes one person, place, thing, or idea and requires a singular verb form.

Collective Noun: A noun that represents a group of individuals or things and can be either singular or plural depending on context, affecting subject-verb agreement.