Use the correct subject or verb

1. Understanding Subjects and Verbs

  • Subject: The subject tells us who or what the sentence is about. It can be a single noun (e.g., “dog”) or a group of nouns (e.g., “Tom and Jerry”).
  • Verb: The verb shows the action or state of being of the subject. It tells what the subject does or what happens to it.

2. Identifying Subjects

  • Subjects can be:
  • Singular: Referring to one person or thing (e.g., “The cat”).
  • Plural: Referring to more than one person or thing (e.g., “The cats”).
  • Examples:
  • “The bird sings.”
  • Sara and Mike are friends.”

3. Identifying Verbs

  • Action Verbs: Show what the subject is doing (e.g., “run,” “play”).
  • Linking Verbs: Connect the subject to more information about it (e.g., “is,” “are”).
  • Examples:
  • “He jumps high.”
  • “She is happy.”

4. Subject-Verb Agreement

  • The verb must agree with the subject in number (singular or plural).
  • Singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs.
  • Examples:
  • “The dog barks.” (Singular subject and verb)
  • “The dogs bark.” (Plural subject and verb)

5. Choosing the Correct Subject

  • Ensure the subject matches the verb in number and person.
  • Examples:
  • Correct: “She reads books.”
  • Incorrect: “She read books.” (Incorrect verb form)

6. Choosing the Correct Verb

  • Make sure the verb is the right form for the subject and tense of the sentence.
  • Examples:
  • Correct: “They are running fast.”
  • Incorrect: “They is running fast.” (Incorrect verb form)

7. Common Errors to Avoid

  • Using a verb that does not match the subject in number.
  • Correct: “He runs every morning.”
  • Incorrect: “He run every morning.”
  • Confusing singular and plural forms of the verb.
  • Correct: “The teacher teaches the class.”
  • Incorrect: “The teacher teach the class.”