In English grammar, subject-verb agreement refers to the correspondence between a subject and its verb. It is important for a verb to agree with its subject in terms of number and person. This ensures grammatical correctness and helps to convey the intended meaning of a sentence.
This answer key provides the correct subject-verb agreement for the exercises in Packet 6. By reviewing the answers, you can improve your understanding of this important grammatical concept. It will also help you to identify any errors and avoid them in your own writing.
The exercises in Packet 6 cover different scenarios for subject-verb agreement, such as singular and plural subjects, indefinite pronouns, and collective nouns. By practicing these exercises with the answer key, you can enhance your skills and become more confident in using subject-verb agreement correctly.
Remember, subject-verb agreement is an essential part of writing effectively. It helps to maintain clarity and coherence in your sentences, allowing your ideas to be easily understood by your readers. By mastering subject-verb agreement, you can elevate the quality of your writing and communicate more effectively.
Packet 6 Subject Verb Agreement Answer Key
In this answer key for Packet 6 on subject verb agreement, we will review the correct answers for each exercise. Subject verb agreement is an important grammatical rule that ensures that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number. By understanding and applying this rule correctly, we can create grammatically correct and clear sentences.
Exercise 1:
- Answer: The cat plays with the ball.
- Explanation: The subject “cat” is singular, so the verb “play” should be in the singular form “plays”.
Exercise 2:
- Answer: The dogs bark loudly.
- Explanation: The subject “dogs” is plural, so the verb “bark” should be in the plural form.
Exercise 3:
| Subject | Verb |
|---|---|
| She | is |
| We | are |
| He | is |
Exercise 4:
- Answer: The girl watches television.
- Explanation: The subject “girl” is singular, so the verb “watch” should be in the singular form “watches”.
- Answer: The boys play soccer.
- Explanation: The subject “boys” is plural, so the verb “play” should be in the plural form.
By practicing subject verb agreement, we can improve our written and spoken English. It is important to pay attention to the number of the subject and choose the correct verb form accordingly. Through regular practice and review, we can master this grammatical rule and communicate effectively.
Explanation of Subject Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is a crucial rule in grammar that governs the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. This rule ensures that the verb matches the subject in terms of number and person. When the subject is singular, the verb should be singular as well, and when the subject is plural, the verb should be plural too.
There are several factors to consider when determining the subject-verb agreement. One of the key factors is the number of the subject. If the subject is singular, such as “he,” “she,” or a singular noun, the verb should also be singular. For example, “He eats pizza” and “She plays the piano.” On the other hand, if the subject is plural, like “they” or a plural noun, the verb should be plural too. For instance, “They eat pizza” and “The students play the piano.”
In addition to the number of the subject, the proximity and the intervening phrases can also affect the subject-verb agreement. When there are intervening phrases or clauses between the subject and the verb, it is essential to identify the true subject to determine the agreement. For example, in the sentence “The dog, along with his puppies, is sleeping,” the subject is “dog,” and the singular verb “is” agrees with it. The intervening phrase “along with his puppies” does not change the subject-verb agreement.
To ensure subject-verb agreement, it is important to identify the subject correctly and choose the appropriate verb form. Maintaining this agreement is crucial for clear and effective communication. By understanding and applying the rules of subject-verb agreement, you can enhance the coherence and accuracy of your sentences.
Examples of Subject Verb Agreement
In English grammar, subject-verb agreement is the process of ensuring that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number. This means that a singular subject should have a singular verb, and a plural subject should have a plural verb. Here are some examples of subject-verb agreement in different contexts:
1. Singular subject with singular verb
Example: The dog barks at the mailman.
In this sentence, the singular subject “dog” agrees with the singular verb “barks”.
2. Plural subject with plural verb
Example: The girls play in the park.
Here, the plural subject “girls” agrees with the plural verb “play”.
3. Indefinite pronouns with singular verb
Example: Everyone loves chocolate.
Indefinite pronouns like “everyone” and “anyone” are always singular and require a singular verb.
4. Collective nouns with singular or plural verb
Example 1: The team is practicing for the tournament. (singular verb)
Example 2: The team are arguing over the decision. (plural verb)
Collective nouns, like “team” and “family”, can take a singular verb when referring to the group as a whole and a plural verb when emphasizing individual members.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an important grammatical rule that ensures clarity and coherence in writing. By ensuring that the subject and verb agree in number, we can avoid confusion and make our sentences grammatically correct.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Subject-verb agreement is a key aspect of English grammar, and many learners make mistakes in this area. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:
- Mistake 1: Incorrect verb form with singular subjects
- Incorrect: “The book belong on the shelf.”
- Correct: “The book belongs on the shelf.”
- Mistake 2: Confusion with compound subjects
- Incorrect: “The dog and the cat is sleeping.”
- Correct: “The dog and the cat are sleeping.”
- Mistake 3: Agreement with indefinite pronouns
- Incorrect: “Someone is calling you on the phone.”
- Correct: “Someone is calling you on the phone.”
- Mistake 4: Ignoring the closest subject
- Incorrect: “The team, along with their coach, is practicing today.”
- Correct: “The team, along with their coach, are practicing today.”
- Mistake 5: Agreement with collective nouns
- Incorrect: “The jury is giving their verdict.”
- Correct: “The jury is giving its verdict.”
One frequent mistake is using the incorrect verb form with singular subjects. For example:
Another common mistake is failing to properly match the verb with compound subjects. For example:
Many learners also struggle with subject-verb agreement when it involves indefinite pronouns. For example:
Ignoring the closest subject is another mistake to watch out for. For example:
Lastly, collective nouns can cause confusion when it comes to subject-verb agreement. For example:
By being aware of these common mistakes and practicing subject-verb agreement, English learners can improve their grammar skills and communicate more effectively.
Exercises to Practice Subject Verb Agreement
Now that we have covered the rules for subject verb agreement, let’s put our knowledge to the test with some exercises. These exercises will help you practice identifying the correct subject verb agreement in various sentences.
Below are some sentences with a blank space where the verb should be. Choose the correct form of the verb from the options provided.
- The dogs (bark/barks) loudly at night.
- John and his sister (enjoy/enjoys) playing soccer.
- Every student in the class (is/are) required to read the assigned book.
- The cake and the cookies (tastes/taste) delicious.
- My friend and I (is/are) going to the movies tonight.
Once you have completed the exercises, check your answers below:
- The dogs bark loudly at night.
- John and his sister enjoy playing soccer.
- Every student in the class is required to read the assigned book.
- The cake and the cookies taste delicious.
- My friend and I are going to the movies tonight.
Great job! You have successfully completed the exercises and practiced subject verb agreement. Remember to always pay attention to the subject and verb in a sentence and make sure they agree in number.