Subject Verb Agreement | English Lesson | Common Grammar Mistakes

Summary

In this mmmEnglish lesson, Emma addresses a common grammar issue for English learners: subject-verb agreement. She explains that the subject and verb in a sentence must match in number, with plural subjects requiring a plural verb form and singular subjects needing a singular verb form. Emma highlights exceptions, such as the pronouns 'I' and 'you', which take a plural verb form despite being singular. She also covers the use of auxiliary verbs, modal verbs, and the complexities introduced by indefinite pronouns, compound subjects, and group nouns. Emma emphasizes the importance of clearly pronouncing final consonant sounds for effective communication. She provides examples and tips to help learners master subject-verb agreement, both in writing and speaking, and encourages practice for better understanding and application.

Takeaways

• 📚 Subject-verb agreement is a common grammar mistake where the subject and verb in English sentences must match in number.
• 🏖️ For singular subjects, use a singular verb form (e.g., 'He goes to the beach'), and for plural subjects, use a plural verb form (e.g., 'They go to the beach').
• 🔄 In the present tense, nouns and verbs agree in opposite ways; plural nouns do not add 's' to the verb, while singular nouns do.
• 👤 Exceptions to the rule include 'I' and 'you', which are singular but take the plural form of the verb (e.g., 'I like', 'You like').
• ⚠️ Auxiliary verbs like 'do', 'does', 'am', 'is', 'are', 'was', 'were', 'have', 'has' become the agreeing verb and must match the subject.
• 🚫 Modal auxiliary verbs like 'may', 'could', 'will', 'must', 'should' are followed by the infinitive form of the verb, not the 's' form.
• 🤔 Identifying the subject can be complex in sentences with compound subjects, group nouns, and relative clauses.
• 👥 When two singular subjects are joined by 'and', they become a plural subject and require a plural verb.
• 🏠 Group nouns like 'team', 'family' can be singular or plural depending on whether they refer to the group as a whole or the individuals within it.
• 📰 Some nouns that appear plural, like 'news', and uncountable nouns are treated as singular and require a singular verb.
• 🧐 The position of the subject and verb can change in questions, so it's important to identify the subject correctly to ensure agreement.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the mmmEnglish lesson presented in the transcript?

The main focus of the mmmEnglish lesson is subject-verb agreement in English, which is a common grammar mistake made by English learners.

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

The basic rule for subject-verb agreement in English is that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree or match in number, whether singular or plural.

How does the verb form change when the subject is plural?

When the subject is plural, the verb form does not add an 's'. For example, 'The cars look expensive', where 'cars' is plural and 'look' is the correct plural verb form.

What is an exception to the subject-verb agreement rule in English?

An exception to the subject-verb agreement rule is when the subject is 'I' or 'you'. Even though they are singular, they take the plural form of the verb, as in 'I like to go swimming'.

How does the presence of an auxiliary verb affect subject-verb agreement?

When there is an auxiliary verb in a sentence, it becomes the agreeing verb that must match the subject in number, as in 'The dogs don't want it' where 'don't' agrees with the plural subject 'dogs'.

What is the rule for subject-verb agreement with modal auxiliary verbs?

With modal auxiliary verbs like may, could, will, must, should, the verb following the modal verb is never in the 's' form. It's always in the infinitive form, as in 'My friend might come'.

What are indefinite pronouns and how do they affect subject-verb agreement?

Indefinite pronouns are words like everybody, nobody, anybody, someone. They usually take singular verbs, as in 'Everybody wants to be loved'.

How does the subject-verb agreement work with compound subjects joined by 'and'?

When two or more singular subjects are joined by 'and', they become a plural subject and require a plural verb, as in 'My mum and dad are proud of me'.

What is the rule for subject-verb agreement with gerunds and gerund phrases as subjects?

When a gerund or a gerund phrase is the subject, it takes the singular form of the verb, as in 'Waiting for the bus is annoying'. However, when linked by 'and', they take the plural form, as in 'Meeting friends after work and going to the beach are my favourite things'.

How should group nouns be treated in terms of subject-verb agreement?

Group nouns like club, team, company, family, crowd, class can be treated as either singular or plural depending on the meaning of the sentence. They are singular when referring to the group as a whole and plural when referring to the individuals within the group.

What is the advice given for English learners who struggle with pronouncing final consonant sounds?

The advice given is to practice out loud during lessons, ensuring to hit those final consonant sounds clearly, to improve pronunciation and clarity in speech.