When the subject and the verb of any sentence match each other or have same form then it is said that subject and verb agree with each other.
- If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.
- If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
Subject and verb must agree in following ways.
- In person: First person, second person and third person.
- In number: Singular or plural.
Now, see following examples. In following examples, subjects are in bold and verbs are in colour.
- Sanketh plays tennis.
(Here subject ‘Sanketh’ is third person singular so verb ‘plays’ is also in singular form. )
(verb + s/es = singular,
here play + s = plays) - They play football.
(Here subject ‘They’ is third person plural so verb ‘play’ is in plural form.) - I am eating.
(Here subject ‘I’ is first person so we are using ‘am’ with the verb) - You are dancing.
(Here subject ‘you’ is second person so we are using ‘are’ with the verb) - My friend Supreeth goes to the same gym as I do.
(Here subject ‘My friend Supreeth’ is third person singular so verb ‘goes’ is also in singular form. )
(verb + s/es = singular,
here go + es = goes) - The plane flies to London every day.
(Here subject ‘The plane’ is third person singular so verb ‘flies’ is also in singular form. )
(verb + s/es = singular,
here fly + es = flies)
Click here to see where to use s and es while making singular forms of verbs.
Click here to see the rules of subject and verb agreement.
