The subject-verb agreement rule means that when making a sentence, the subject and verb must "agree" (= be the same): Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses
A singular noun is a noun that refers to one person or thing (such as kid , chair , bus , etc.).
A singular verb is a verb that describes the action or state of one person or thing (such as is , has , talks , etc.).
A plural noun is a noun that refers to more than one person or thing. It usually ends with an S (such as kids , chairs , buses , etc.).
A plural verb is a verb that describes the action or state of more than one person or thing. It usually doesn't end with an S (such as are , have , talk , etc.).
The bird _________ (be) on the tree.
The subject = The bird => singular (one bird)
Therefore, the correct sentence is: The bird is are on the tree.
And here is a not so simple example:
The list of students _________ (be) very long.
The subject = The list => singular (one list)
Therefore, the correct sentence is: The list of students is are very long.
Singular subject + and + singular subject => plural verb
Singular subject + or / nor + singular subject => singular verb
Singular subject + or / nor + I => am
Incorrect: Either Joe or I are going to stay here.
Singular subject + or / nor + plural subject => plural verb
Incorrect: The cats or dog sleep here.
Singular subject + comments => singular verb
Every , each , everyone , everybody , anyone , anybody , someone , somebody => singular verb
All / some / none + singular noun => singular verb
All / some / none + plural noun => plural verb
Incorrect: Some of the cake are pink.
Correct: Some of the cakes are pink.
Percent / fraction / part + singular noun => singular verb
Percent / fraction / part + plural noun => plural verb
Incorrect: Most of the group are from around here.
Correct: Eighty percent of the people have a job.
Either of / Neither of => singular verb
Money / time => singular verb
Incorrect: Ten thousand dollars are the highest amount we can give you.
Correct: Five years is a reasonable amount of time to pay them back.
These were the subject-verb agreement rules. Use them to make grammatically correct sentences.
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