Subject and Verb Agreement for Grade 7

Subject and Verb Agreement for Grade 7

Correct subject and verb agreement is essential for clear and effective communication, whether you’re writing an essay or simply having a conversation. In Grade 7, students typically learn how to identify and correct errors in subject-verb agreement. Here are some key concepts to keep in mind:

1. Singular vs. plural subjects

The subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about. Singular subjects (e.g. “the cat,” “the teacher,” “the book”) require singular verbs, while plural subjects (e.g. “the cats,” “the teachers,” “the books”) require plural verbs. For example:

– Singular: The cat is sleeping.

– Plural: The cats are sleeping.

2. Subject-verb agreement with compound subjects

Sometimes a sentence will have more than one subject, called a compound subject. In this case, you need to make sure the verb agrees with both subjects. If the subjects are joined by “and,” the verb should be plural. If the subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb should agree with the subject closer to the verb. For example:

– Compound subject with “and”: The cat and the dog are sleeping.

– Compound subject with “or”: Neither the cat nor the dog is sleeping.

3. Subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns (e.g. “everyone,” “someone,” “anything”) refer to an unspecified person or thing. When used as the subject of a sentence, indefinite pronouns require singular verbs. For example:

– Everyone wants to succeed.

– Somebody is knocking at the door.

4. Special cases

There are a few special cases that can be tricky for students. For example:

– Collective nouns (e.g. “team,” “class,” “group”) are treated as singular subjects and require singular verbs: The team is practicing.

– Titles of books, movies, and other works are treated as singular subjects and require singular verbs: The Hunger Games is a popular book.

– The words “none” and “either” can be singular or plural depending on the context: None of the cats is sleeping. None of the cats are sleeping.

It’s important to note that subject-verb agreement also applies to tense. For example, if the subject is in the present tense, the verb should also be in the present tense. By mastering subject-verb agreement, Grade 7 students can improve their writing and communication skills.