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Every sentence has a subject and a verb. In order for that sentence to be grammatical correct, the subject and verb has to agree in number. The subject cannot be in singular form, while the verb is in plural form.
In order to get this correct, you need to know what a subject is, and what a verb is. The subject is the boss. If the subject is in singular, then the verb is in singular too. However, there are some exceptions, we will come back to that later. A good place to start is to learn this chart by heart.
Every subject in a sentence can be changed in to I, he, she, it, we, you or they. If you do that, then you know what form of to be you should use. Entall Present (presens) Past (preteritum) 1. I am (I`m) was 2. you are (you`re) were 3. He is (he`s) was She is (she`s) was It is (it`s) was Flertall 1. We are (we`re) were 2. You are (you`re) were 3. They are (they`re) were The girl is singing - She is singing. The girl is the same as she, and then we know that it is she is.
The boys are dancing - They are dancing. The boys are the same as they, and then we know that it is the boys are There are some other rules as well.
1. If the subject is in third person singular (he, it, Per, Ann), you add an s to the verb. I leave (first person singular) He leaves (third person singular) I begin after you (first person singular) Per begins after you (third person singular) The exception is the verb be (am, are, is, was and were). You cannot say he wass, or Per ares. 2. Subjects that are joined by and, usually takes the plural form.
Per and Lisa are going to school (they are going to school) 3. If one of the words each, every, or no comes before the subject, the verb is singular.
Every child is special. No man is an island. 4. If the subjects are both singular and are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also the verb is singular.
John or Sara is to blame. 5. When we use units for measurement or time, we usually use the singular verb form.
70 litres of water was needed to fill the swimming pool. 6. If one subject is singular and one plural and the words are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, you use the verb form of the subject that is nearest the verb.
Either the boys or the girl was responsible (the girl is closest to the verb, so the verb is in singular, because the girl is singular). Either the girl or the boys were responsible (the boys, which is in plural, is closest to the verb, so the verb is in plural). 7. Indefinite pronouns (anybody, anyone, everybody, everyone) usually take singular verbs.
Everybody wants to be heard (wants because everybody is third person, and treated as singular). 8. Rule number 7 does not apply to the pronouns few, many, several, both, all or some. Those words always take the plural form.
Many were scared. A few of them are still here. 9. Collective nouns like herd, senate, class, crowd, etc. usually take a singular verb form.
The class is ready for the test. The crowd was going wild. 10. Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular and take a singular verb.
Transformers is a movie that was released in 2007 |
Grammar sites:
1. Main page 1 . Atricles 2 . Nouns 3 . Verbs 4 . Adjectives 5 . Adverbs 6 . Determiners 7 . It and There 8 . Concord 9. Genitive 10.Preposition |