English.

Learning the Rules of the English Language – Subject-Verb Agreement

Learning the rules of the English language can be a daunting and frustrating task. Many students of English rely heavily on the help and guidance of an experienced teacher or tutor to aid in mastering the intricacies of the language. While all of the rules of English are important to understand, one of the fundamental elements of the language is subject-verb agreement.

Subject-verb agreement is an essential part of the English language. The rule simply states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. To effectively use this rule, students must first be able to identify the singular and plural forms of certain words. For example, a noun that is singular will have an "s" added to it to create the plural form – such as in the case of "cat" becoming "cats." If a noun is already plural the verb will also be plural – such as in the case of "families" taking a plural verb.

In addition to recognizing singular and plural forms of nouns, a student of English must understand when the subject of a sentence is in fact a subject and when it is an object. A subject actively participates in the action of the sentence, and is indicated by being the doer, the receiver, or the actor. An object receives the action of a sentence and is indicated by "by" at the end of the sentence.

An example of subject-verb agreement using the rule would be "the cat (singular subject) runs (singular verb)." This type of verb agreement is essential in making sure the meaning of a sentence is clear. When the teacher or tutor teaching the English language is available, it is helpful to ask them to clarify any confusing points as they come up.

Another helpful way to master the rules of subject-verb agreement is to practice. Different types of practice can be done on a one-on-one basis with an English-language teacher or tutor. For example, commutative practice can be done through online platforms such as Skype. This type of practice allows the student to practice in conversations with the teacher or tutor so that the student can learn in real-time as mistakes are corrected.

It is important for English-language students to understand the basics like subject-verb agreement as they are a fundamental part of mastering the English language. Through practice and help from qualified teachers and tutors, students of English can become proficient and master the rules of the language.