Subject Verb Agreement for Beginners | Part 1: The Basic Rules of English Grammar

Subject verb agreement is very important in English grammar. If you want to have excellent English writing or proofreading skills, you MUST master subject-verb agreement. This is a very big topic, so today's video will focus on the basics of this grammar concept. First, we will discuss "subjects" and how they must agree with the verbs in sentences.
A sentence's subject is the main actor, and the verb is what the subject is doing. For example, in "The cat sleeps," "The cat" is the subject, and "sleeps" is the verb.
Subject-verb agreement means that if the subject is singular (one), the verb should also be singular. If the subject is plural (more than one), the verb should be plural. For example, "The dog barks" (singular) and "The dogs bark" (plural).
Rule number one: Singular subjects need singular verbs.
Rule number two: Plural subjects need plural verbs.
There are some exceptions, but we will discuss these in future lessons. At the end of this lesson, there will be a basic subject-verb agreement quiz to test your knowledge!
More in the Subject-Verb Agreement Series:
➡️ Part 2: Collective Nouns: • Subject Verb Agreement...
➡️ Part 3: Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns: • Subject Verb Agreement...
➡️ Part 4: Compound Subjects with And/Or/Nor: • Subject Verb Agreement...
➡️ Part 5: Inverted Sentences with Here & There: • Subject Verb Agreement...
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:36 - What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
02:37 - Singular Subjects Require Singular Verbs
03:35 - Plural Subjects Require Plural Verbs
04:28 - Compound Subjects with "And"
07:18 - Irregular Plural Subjects
08:55 - Exception: Personal Pronouns I and You
10:42 - Exception: The Verb To Be
12:25 - Subject-Verb Agreement QUIZ
13:40 - Answers
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[@SparkleEnglish]

⭐Watch Part 2 of my Subject-Verb Agreement series here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5eXdqCModWlnsU ➡The Verb To Be: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWOTiKp7dr-If7c ➡Present Simple Affirmative Form: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2WTfGRvbdhsbKc ➡Present Simple Negative/Interrogative Form: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGjMiKCabriYe9U ➡Present Continuous Affirmative Form: kzbin.info/www/bejne/amrTfGuaiJVqorc ➡Present Continuous Negative/Interrogative Form: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2nHiamHYpmApbc

[@somenas2005]

I like the way you teach english grammars. thank for sharing.

[@srijana8993]

u are so good and talented I was zero in subject verb agreement now i am understanding it well...❤❤❤ Thank you so much🎉❤

[@abdulkabia8486]

Good job keep it up. Please make a video on binomials with subject verb agreement using is or are has or have in simple present tense.Include a list of binomials example law and order is or are what we need.which one is correct

[@Joseluis-pk2fr]

Oustanding class professor, just what I was looking for. Thank you!

[@SparkleEnglish]

You are very welcome! Thanks for your kind words! 🤗

[@ElladaEllada-vi7bv]

❤

[@Robert-pr3yw]

10/10 thank you for this video it really helped me

[@kylerdad123]

Thank you for the lesson! It has helped me to better understand English grammar. Looking forward to your next lesson. Best wishes and regards! 😀

[@SparkleEnglish]

You're very welcome! I'm happy to hear that!

[@hunikil8860]

great, continue please you are the best 🤩

[@ssultanzamin8753]

Fantastic job! I really appreciate your effort. God bless you and thank you so much for the amazing lesson.

[@SparkleEnglish]

Thank you so much for your wonderful words. Sending blessings to you as well!

[@JNCKO]

Excellent! You're the best teacher. ❤

[@SparkleEnglish]

Wow, thank you!

[@MonroeCS]

Great video

[@siphomnguni5582]

Thank u, this really helped me to do better than first

[@tiyanisulis2619]

this vidio really help me to understand english language

[@mohamedchihab5929]

Good lesson! 8/10😀.Thank you.

[@SparkleEnglish]

Glad you liked it! Well done!

[@Hondalover3000]

10 was tricky indeed. Thanks teacher! Enjoyed this lesson again!

[@SparkleEnglish]

Excellent as usual!!

[@Hondalover3000]

@@SparkleEnglish Thanks!

[@williamruy9350]

Thanks Jennifer, Danke Jennifer, Merci Jennifer, Gracias Jennifer.

[@SparkleEnglish]

You've been working hard today! You're very welcome! 🙌🙌

[@mojtababezan]

Hi, there, I was correct about the sentences, so I got 10 out of 10. By the way I am a new student and it's my pleasure to watching your videos.

[@SparkleEnglish]

Thank you so much, and well done on the quiz! 🙌

[@phuocbanker5262]

Thanks so much! Really love your channel ❤

[@SparkleEnglish]

You are so welcome!

[@pastorlordknows1]

AM BLESSED TO HAVE THIS CHANNEL... GOOD WORK....I HAD 10/10

[@SparkleEnglish]

🤗🤗

[@craftingcraze5100]

Thank you so much, this helped me ace my test!!❤

[@SparkleEnglish]

Well done!!! 🤗

[@shaaiflaki]

Thanks so much my friend ❤❤❤

[@SparkleEnglish]

You are so welcome!

[@mondelinejean2980]

You are the best

[@rehmatjr]

greeting from Pakistan🇵🇰

[@user-cv5ky6cq9t]

Mam, do make a video about the article 'the'.

[@worldinjpg]

i’m studying it for teas 7 and ur amazing

[@SparkleEnglish]

Thank you!! 🤗

[@MonroeCS]

Omg I’m here because I have to take it as well

[@SholaMayowa]

10/10 😊 thank you ma

[@luisfernandoaguilar3388]

I am so thankful to find your channel. You have no idea how much your videos have helped me.😃😃 We want moree! I would like to know more when to use present continuous. I’ve notice native Americans use it a lot. Regards from Mexico 🇲🇽

[@SparkleEnglish]

You are so welcome! I do have a video on the present continuous. I will add the links in the pinned comment soon. :)

[@jennysaintpierre]

Hello! I have a grammar question with a personal phrase I want to ask you, how can I reach you?

[@dengthuch5461]

Don't forget to make a video on the REPORTED SPEECH, especially when we don't change the tense. He said he would go to the cinema tonight OR He said he will go to the cinema tonight

[@SparkleEnglish]

At some point, I will create a video on reported speech. Hopefully, within the next month! I have a long list of videos to create. :)

[@rohitkumarbehara3553]

I am indian, but I listen your classes❤

[@kishorwaze5303]

10/10 .

[@user-ig7hm5bv4k]

Thank you

[@rabeyaakter3820]

8/10 😊

[@winstonjones7912]

I wish I had this infromation years ago! :(

[@SparkleEnglish]

You have it now! 🤗

[@BethanyRichards-ps4fi]

10 out of 10

[@hunikil8860]

thank you so much

[@jameslabs1]

Subject Verb Agreement: Is that why expressions like, "your guys" and "Anyways I was...." are wrong? Or is it something else? Thanks

[@darknessvoid9614]

10/10

[@ayubayunusa3188]

9/10 thank you dear

[@SparkleEnglish]

You are welcome 🤗 And well done!!

[@iyib944]

Bread and butter - - - - - - his daily diet. (was /were) which one is correct? I am confused about this one.

[@luisfernandoaguilar3388]

Were because there are two singulars joined by and ;)

[@SparkleEnglish]

This is an excellent question, and I will address this in more detail in one of my next videos in this series. Luis is correct in that "bread" and "butter" are two singular subjects joined by "and." However, in this example, the correct choice is "is" because "bread and butter" is considered a singular noun phrase. Even though it consists of two items (bread and butter), it is treated as a single entity in this context. Therefore, the singular verb "is" should be used to match the subject "bread and butter." Compare that sentence with this one: "Bread and butter are two items on my shopping list." In this case, we use "are" because we are not talking about "bread and butter" as one single entity. Does that make sense? I will address this with more examples in a future video. :)

[@iyib944]

Thanks a lot for clearing my confusion ☺️

[@gregario888]

Seems like it is Sayonara to transcription!

[@SparkleEnglish]

Unfortunately! However, proofreading jobs are still very much in demand!

[@user-ss3ln5dp8r]

10/10 thx

[@mubashirkhattak1457]

10 out 10

[@odageoyama5172]

What gets me confused about subject verb agreement is when a plural word like everybody has to go with 'is' and not 'are'..

[@SparkleEnglish]

I will address that in my series! There will be several videos because this is a BIG topic!

[@Malikhassanwazir-ou3fc]

9

[@trishasalunke]

9 in half

[@masumrana6469]

I have got 10/10.

[@SparkleEnglish]

Well done!!!

[@sheenaanil6703]

8 out of 10

[@jc.9778]

Thanks!

[@jc.9778]

Thank you for posting all the English lessons

[@SparkleEnglish]

Thank you SO much for your kindness and generosity!! It means so much! ☺☺

[@user-od8bw9fz6t]

I love you ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@megatameerzaheri4282]

10/10

[@parhlaykhan]

10/10

[@SparkleEnglish]

🤩✨