This document discusses subject-verb agreement rules in the simple present tense of English. It provides examples of verbs used with different subjects in the simple present, including "I", "you", "he/she/it", "we" and "they". It also describes when the simple present is used, such as for general truths, habits and present states. Additionally, it notes some instances where subject-verb agreement can be difficult, including with compound subjects, subjects followed by prepositional phrases, and indefinite pronouns.

1. 1.2 THE SIMPLE PRESENT Page 6

2. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT IN
THE SIMPLE PRESENT
I work
You work
He/she/it
works
We work
They work
I have
You have
He/she/it has
We have
They have

3. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT IN
THE SIMPLE PRESENT
I go
You go
He/she/it
goes
We go
They go
I study
You study
He/she/it
studies
We study
They study

4. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT IN
THE SIMPLE PRESENT
I am
You are
He/she/it is
We are
They are

5. A. WE USE THE SIMPLE PRESENT
TO DESCRIBE:
General statements or timeless truth.
1. Most people need about eight
hours of sleep at night.
2. Adults have 206 bones. Babies have
270 to 300.
3. An apple a day keeps the doctor
away.

6. A. WE USE THE SIMPLE PRESENT
TO DESCRIBE:
Habits or routines.
4. I never get to bed before midnight.
5. The class meets from 10:00 to
12:00.

7. A. WE USE THE SIMPLE PRESENT
TO DESCRIBE:
Habits or routines.
4. I never get to bed before midnight.
5. The class meets from 10:00 to
12:00.

8. A. WE USE THE SIMPLE PRESENT
TO DESCRIBE:
Present states.
6. I don’t want to go.
7. My arm hurts.

9. B. SOMETIMES IT IS DIFFICULT TO
DETERMINE THE CORRECT SUBJECT-
VERB AGREEMENT IN A SENTENCE:
When two subjects are connected with
and.
1. My mother and father like it here.

10. B. SOMETIMES IT IS DIFFICULT TO
DETERMINE THE CORRECT SUBJECT-
VERB AGREEMENT IN A SENTENCE:
When there is a prepositional phrase
after the subject.
2. The difference between us is hard
to explain.
3. The programs on television aren’t
very good.

11. B. SOMETIMES IT IS DIFFICULT TO
DETERMINE THE CORRECT SUBJECT-
VERB AGREEMENT IN A SENTENCE:
When the subject is an indefinite
pronoun.
4. Everyone is here.
5. Does anything ever happen here?

12. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
something somebody
someone
anything anybody
anyone
everything everybody