2. Learning Objectives
Grasp the rules governing subject and verb in a
sentence.
Understand the exceptions.
3. Introduction
Remember that the most basic sentence starts
with a SVO – Subject-Verb-Object.
SVA or Subject Verb agreement describes the
rules that verbs must follow with the subjects.
It is a common source of mistake as all
sentences have subject and verb, since SVO is
the basic structure type.
4. What must agree?
Let's look at some sentences:
1) David is sleeping.
2) There is an alarm ringing in the house
somewhere.
3) David and James like to swim.
Singular verbs end with an 's' while plural verbs
don't.
In (1) and (2), the subjects 'David' and 'an
alarm' are both singular, therefore, 'is' follows.
5. Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA)
One of the basic rules of grammar is that the subject
and verb must agree:
Plural Noun (suffix 's') = Plural Verb (no 's')
Singular Noun (no 's') = Singular Verb (suffix 's')
The suffix 's' and 'es' are used to signal plural and
singular nouns and verbs.
Note: If a noun or a verb ends with a 'y', 'es' is added:
Cry – cries / Fly – flies / worry – worries
6. Learning Activity
Read the sentences below and decide the
sentences have SVA errors or not.
1) The furniture is expensive.
2) The river banks is overflowing.
3) Ten minutes is not a long wait.
4) The herd of buffaloes is crossing the river.
Hint: Think carefully whether the subject is
plural.
7. Learning Activity Answers
None of the sentences have SVA errors.
1) The furniture is expensive. (S is one group)
2) The river banks is overflowing. (S spelt this way)
3) Ten minutes is not a long wait. (time is singular)
4) The herd of buffaloes is crossing the river. (S is
one group, same as Q1)
Hint: Think carefully whether the subject is
plural.
8. Discussion
What does SVA tell us we need to follow in
sentences?
How do we change singular nouns and verbs to
plural?
9. In Summary
SVA tells us that subjects and verbs must agree.
Plural Nouns with Plural Verbs and Singular
Nouns with Singular Verbs.
Plural Nouns add 's' or 'es' and Plural Verbs don't
add 's' or 'es'.
They are exactly the opposite in the way they
change for plurality.
10. In Summary
SVA tells us that subjects and verbs must agree.
Plural Nouns with Plural Verbs and Singular
Nouns with Singular Verbs.
Plural Nouns add 's' or 'es' and Plural Verbs don't
add 's' or 'es'.
They are exactly the opposite in the way they
change for plurality.
