Exercise Based on Subject-Verb Agreement
As a writer, one of the most important things you need to master is subject-verb agreement. Subject-verb agreement is crucial to ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct and easy to read. Here are some exercises that can help you improve your subject-verb agreement skills.
Exercise 1: Identifying subjects and verbs
Before you can master subject-verb agreement, you need to be able to identify the subject and verb in a sentence. In this exercise, you`ll practice identifying the subject and verb in each sentence.
1. The cat drinks milk.
Subject: cat, Verb: drinks
2. The children play outside.
Subject: children, Verb: play
3. The car needs repairs.
Subject: car, Verb: needs
4. The teacher grades papers.
Subject: teacher, Verb: grades
5. The flowers smell sweet.
Subject: flowers, Verb: smell
Exercise 2: Singular and plural subjects
In English, verbs must agree in number with their subjects. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. In this exercise, you`ll practice using the correct verb form with singular and plural subjects.
1. The dog (bark) loudly.
Bark changes to barks to agree with the singular subject dog.
2. The dogs (bark) loudly.
Bark stays the same to agree with the plural subject dogs.
3. The cat (purr) softly.
Purr changes to purrs to agree with the singular subject cat.
4. The cats (purr) softly.
Purr stays the same to agree with the plural subject cats.
5. The child (run) to the playground.
Run changes to runs to agree with the singular subject child.
6. The children (run) to the playground.
Run stays the same to agree with the plural subject children.
Exercise 3: Indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns, such as everyone, someone, and nobody, can be singular or plural depending on their meaning. In this exercise, you`ll practice using the correct verb form with indefinite pronouns.
1. Everyone (enjoy) the party.
Enjoy changes to enjoys to agree with the singular indefinite pronoun everyone.
2. Someone (needs) to fix the computer.
Needs changes to need to agree with the plural meaning of the indefinite pronoun someone.
3. Nobody (like) to do chores.
Like changes to likes to agree with the singular indefinite pronoun nobody.
Exercise 4: Compound subjects
A compound subject is made up of two or more nouns or pronouns that share the same verb. In this exercise, you`ll practice using the correct verb form with compound subjects.
1. Apples and oranges (are) fruit.
Are stays the same to agree with the plural subject apples and oranges.
2. My friend and I (are) going to the movies.
Are stays the same to agree with the plural compound subject my friend and I.
3. The dog and the cat (chase) each other.
Chase stays the same to agree with the plural compound subject the dog and the cat.
Practice makes perfect
Subject-verb agreement is a crucial part of writing. With these exercises, you can improve your skills and make your writing more grammatically correct and easy to read. Keep practicing and you`ll soon master subject-verb agreement.