Learn About Subject-Verb Agreement
Before we learn something new, let's review.
Sentences tell a complete thought.
All sentences have a subject and a verb.
Verbs are the action being done by the subject.
Great job reviewing. Now let's learn something new.
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
In the English language, subjects and verbs must always agree in number.
That means subjects and verbs must either both be singular, or both be plural!
Tip: Singular means only one. Plural means more than one.
That's why we say:
The dog is playing. ✅
are playing. ❎
Tip: 'is' and 'are', and 'am' are different forms of the verb 'be'.
Which one you use depends on the subject!
Tip: 'to be' is an irregular verb, which is why the forms are so different from each other. They don't follow a pattern.
Using 'Is', 'Are', or 'Am'
Use 'is' with singular subjects.
He is proud.
Use 'are' with plural subjects.
We are proud.
The dogs are playing. ✅
Here are all of the ways to use 'to be':
I am happy.
You are happy.
He/She/It is happy.
We are happy.
They are happy.
Remember: You have to match the form of 'be' with the subject! That's called subject-verb agreement.
Tip: 'agreement' means not having a difference, or seeing things the same way.
Subject-Verb Agreement in Regular Verbs
Great job learning about subject-agreement with the irregular verb 'be'. 🎉
Luckily, most verbs are not irregular. So what pattern do regular verbs follow?
👉Regular verbs have a base form, like:
Then we add things like -s to the end to match the subject.
Using 'Walk' vs 'Walks'
We don't say:
We walks to the store. ❎
Instead we say:
We walk to the store. ✅
Jill walks to the store. ✅
So when do we add the -s?
The Rule to Remember
If the subject is singular or he, she , it, add -s to the base form.
Annie walks. She walks. He walks.
👉 For all other subjects don't add the -s.
I walk. They walk. You walk. We walk.
The children like fruit.
Children is a plural subject.
So we use the base form of the verb.
Let's try another example.
Jeff likes fruit.
Jeff, the subject, is singular.
👉 So we add -s to the base form of like.
Watch and Learn
Great job learning about subject-verb agreement.
After a little bit, you'll probably just do it right without even thinking about.
Now try the practice to master what you learned. 😺