Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Subject-verb Agreement

Native speakers of English know by ear that he talks, she has, and it doesn't are standard subject-verb combinations.

NOT:

- he talk
- she have
- it don't

In the present tense, verbs agree with their subjects in number (singular or plural) and in person (first, second, or third).

The present tense ending in -s or -es is used on a verb if its subject is third-person singular; otherwise the verb takes no ending.

* Make the verb agree with its subject, not with a word that comes between.

Example:

The samples on the tray in the lab need testing.
High levels of air pollution cause damage to the respiratory tract.

NOTE: Phrases beginning with the prepositions as well as, in addition to, accompanied by, together with, and along with, do not make a singular subject plural.

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