Rules of Subject Verb Agreement for Grade 8

As a professional, I know how important it is to create content that is not only informative, but also optimized for search engines. With that in mind, let`s talk about the rules of subject-verb agreement for grade 8.

Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that states that the subject of a sentence must agree with the verb in number and person. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

Here are the basic rules of subject-verb agreement for grade 8:

1. Singular Subjects and Singular Verbs

When the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb must also be singular. For example:

– The dog barks at the mailman.

– The teacher grades papers on the weekend.

2. Plural Subjects and Plural Verbs

When the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb must also be plural. For example:

– The dogs bark at the mailman.

– The teachers grade papers on the weekend.

3. Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns, such as someone, anyone, everyone, and nobody, can be singular or plural depending on the context. For example:

– Nobody knows the answer. (singular)

– Everyone agrees with me. (plural)

4. Compound Subjects

When two or more subjects are joined by and, the verb must be plural. For example:

– Jane and John ride their bikes to school.

5. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns, such as team, family, and staff, can be singular or plural depending on the context. For example:

– The team is practicing today. (singular)

– The team are all wearing their jerseys. (plural)

6. Singular Nouns Ending in -s

Some singular nouns end in -s, such as news, politics, and mathematics. These nouns are still treated as singular and require a singular verb. For example:

– The news is on at 6 pm.

– Mathematics is my favorite subject.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an important grammatical rule that every grade 8 student should master. Remember to pay attention to the number and person of the subject when choosing the correct verb form. By following these rules, you`ll be able to write clear and grammatically correct sentences every time.