Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement

Summary

This educational video script covers the fundamentals of subject-verb agreement, with a focus on complex subjects. It begins by explaining the basic components of a sentence, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that subjects and verbs agree in number. The video addresses common errors, such as mistakes in compound subjects, and highlights tricky situations involving noncount nouns and complex subjects. Through practical examples, the script clarifies when and how subject-verb agreement can be confusing, ultimately helping learners avoid common pitfalls in grammar.

Takeaways

• 😀 Subject-verb agreement ensures the subject and verb match in number (singular/plural).
• 😀 A sentence consists of a subject (person, place, or thing) and a predicate (verb and additional information).
• 😀 In English, most verbs are the same except in third-person singular, where we add an 's' (e.g., 'she writes').
• 😀 A common mistake is assuming the verb should match the noun closest to it, instead of the main subject.
• 😀 Complex subjects, such as combined subjects or additional descriptive phrases, require careful attention for subject-verb agreement.
• 😀 When multiple subjects are present (e.g., 'the committee members and the student'), the verb should agree with the plural subject.
• 😀 In sentences with inserted phrases, the verb still agrees with the main subject, not the noun closest to the verb.
• 😀 Noncount nouns (e.g., 'furniture', 'information') always take singular verbs.
• 😀 A phrase like 'the nurse who works with pediatric patients' uses a singular verb ('works') because 'nurse' is the main subject.
• 😀 Errors in subject-verb agreement often arise when the sentence structure is more complex or involves multiple nouns or groups.
• 😀 Always remember that the verb form changes only in third-person singular subjects in the present tense (e.g., 'he writes').

Q & A

What is the main focus of the script?

The script primarily focuses on subject-verb agreement, especially in complex sentences, highlighting common errors and providing examples to clarify the concept.

What are the two main sections of a simple sentence?

The two main sections of a simple sentence are the subject (which is usually a person, place, or thing) and the predicate (which shows the action or state of being).

What is the basic rule for subject-verb agreement in English?

The subject and the verb must agree in number. In the present tense, verbs usually take the same form except for the third person singular, where an 's' is added to the verb.

How does subject-verb agreement work in sentences with compound subjects?

In compound subjects, the verb should match the plurality of the combined subject. For example, 'The committee members and the student write every day,' where 'members and student' is plural, so the verb 'write' is plural.

Why does subject-verb agreement become tricky with complex subjects?

Subject-verb agreement becomes tricky with complex subjects when a sentence contains multiple nouns or phrases that might distract from the main subject. It's important to identify the main subject to ensure the verb agrees with it.

What happens when there is a phrase between the main subject and the verb?

Even if there is a phrase between the main subject and the verb, the verb must agree with the main subject, not with any noun in the intervening phrase. For example, 'The nurse who normally works with pediatric patients volunteers,' where the verb agrees with 'nurse.'

How do we handle subject-verb agreement when dealing with noncount nouns?

Noncount nouns, such as 'furniture' or 'information,' always take a singular verb. For example, 'Information about the program is available' uses 'is' because 'information' is singular.

What is a common error when using noncount nouns in subject-verb agreement?

A common error is treating noncount nouns like 'furniture' or 'information' as if they were plural, which would lead to incorrect verb forms such as 'are' instead of the correct singular form 'is.'

What role do intervening phrases play in subject-verb agreement?

Intervening phrases can make it more difficult to identify the correct subject for the verb. However, the verb should still agree with the main subject of the sentence, not the noun that is closest to the verb.

Can you give an example of how a verb should agree with a compound subject in a sentence?

Sure! In the sentence 'The teacher and the student write every day,' the verb 'write' is plural because the compound subject 'teacher and student' is plural.