Writing: Subject - Verb Agreement

Write to the Top
17 Aug 201617:06
EducationalLearning
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TLDRIn this informative video, Adam discusses the fundamental concept of subject-verb agreement, emphasizing its importance in both writing and speaking. He explains that every clause must have a subject and a verb that agree in number, person, and logic. Adam clarifies that singular subjects require a singular verb with an 's' in the present tense, while plural subjects need a plural verb without an 's'. He also addresses the complexities that arise when subjects and verbs are separated by phrases or clauses, and the need to maintain focus on their connection. The video includes examples to illustrate the correct use of subject-verb agreement and highlights common mistakes to avoid. Adam concludes with a teaser for the next video, which will delve into different types of subjects and their interaction with verbs, promising further insights into this crucial aspect of grammar.

Takeaways
  • 📝 Subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear and correct writing and speaking.
  • 🔍 Every sentence has at least one clause, and each clause must have a subject and a verb that agree in number and person.
  • 🧐 Recognizing singular or plural subjects is essential for proper agreement with the verb.
  • 📉 In the present tense, a singular third-person subject requires a verb with an 's'.
  • ⏮ In the past tense, 'was' is used for he/she/it, but 'I' is an exception with 'I was'.
  • 📖 Noun clauses are always singular and should be recognized as the subject when they are the true subject of a sentence.
  • 🤔 Identifying the correct subject, especially when it is not immediately adjacent to the verb, is vital for agreement.
  • 🔄 In complex sentences, maintain focus on the connection between the subject and the verb, even when separated by phrases or clauses.
  • 📚 Understanding subject-verb agreement is critical for writing effective sentences and for comprehension in reading exercises.
  • 📈 Practice is key to mastering subject-verb agreement, especially in formal writing and standardized tests.
  • 📈 Look for the tense verb first in a sentence, then find the subject that matches to ensure agreement.
Q & A

  • What is the main focus of today's video?

    -The main focus of today's video is subject-verb agreement, a crucial element of writing and speaking, especially when considering clauses and their respective subjects and verbs.

  • What are the three key aspects that subjects and verbs must agree on?

    -Subjects and verbs must agree in terms of number (singular or plural), person (first, second, or third person), and logic.

  • What is the rule for subject-verb agreement in the present tense for third-person singular subjects?

    -In the present tense, a third-person singular subject requires a verb that ends with an 's'.

  • What is a 'dummy subject' or 'preparatory subject'?

    -A 'dummy subject' or 'preparatory subject' is a placeholder subject used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a noun clause, which is the actual subject of the sentence.

  • Why is it incorrect to say 'Parcels deliver every Monday'?

    -It is incorrect because 'parcels' are inanimate objects and cannot perform the action of delivering; the subject and verb do not agree logically.

  • What is the role of an adjective clause in a sentence?

    -An adjective clause provides additional information about a noun, often describing which person or thing is being referred to.

  • How can you ensure that your verbs and subjects agree in a sentence?

    -You can ensure agreement by identifying the tense verbs first, then finding a matching subject for each. Maintain focus on the connection between the subject and verb, even when they are separated by other clauses or phrases.

  • What is the importance of recognizing the subject in a sentence?

    -Recognizing the subject is crucial because it helps ensure that the verb agrees with it in terms of number, person, and logic, which is essential for clear and correct communication.

  • What is the significance of subject-verb agreement in writing, especially in academic or professional contexts?

    -Subject-verb agreement is significant in writing as it contributes to the clarity and correctness of the text. Errors in agreement can lead to confusion and misinterpretation, which is particularly important in academic, professional, or standardized test contexts.

  • What is the function of a compound predicate in a sentence?

    -A compound predicate consists of two or more verbs that share a single subject. It is used to describe multiple actions or states of the subject.

  • Why is it important to maintain focus on the subject-verb connection even when there are many elements between them?

    -Maintaining focus on the subject-verb connection is important because it ensures the sentence is logically coherent and grammatically correct. Losing sight of the connection can lead to agreement errors, which can confuse the reader.

  • What is the next topic that will be covered in the subsequent video?

    -The next video will cover different types of subjects and how they work with verbs, including collective nouns and the use of 'is' versus 'are' with certain subjects.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement

In this segment, Adam introduces the concept of subject-verb agreement, emphasizing its importance in both writing and speaking. He explains that every sentence has at least one clause, and each clause must have a subject and a verb that agree in number and person. Adam discusses the basic rules for singular and plural subjects, the use of 'is' for singular subjects, and 'are' for plural subjects. He also touches on the importance of recognizing the subject in complex sentences and the role of tense in verb agreement. The paragraph ends with an example involving the dummy subject 'it' and its connection to a noun clause.

05:01
🤔 Logical and Numerical Agreement in Verbs

Adam continues the discussion by addressing logical agreement between subjects and verbs. He provides an example where the subject 'parcels' incorrectly attempts to perform the verb 'deliver,' which is logically impossible since parcels cannot deliver. To correct this, Adam suggests using passive voice or changing the subject to the agent performing the action, such as 'the courier.' He also highlights the need to maintain focus on the connection between subjects and verbs, even when they are separated by phrases or clauses. Adam provides further examples, including those with adjective clauses and compound predicates, to illustrate how to identify the correct subject-verb agreement.

10:03
🔍 Identifying Tense Verbs and Their Subjects

In this part, Adam focuses on identifying tense verbs within a sentence and matching them with their corresponding subjects. He explains that a clause can only have one tense verb and that it's crucial to find the subject associated with each tense verb. Adam provides an example sentence with six tense verbs and walks through the process of identifying the subjects for each verb. He also discusses the use of imperative mood, where the understood subject is 'you,' and the importance of recognizing the subject in complex sentences with many clauses and phrases.

15:04
📝 The Importance of Subject-Verb Agreement in Writing

Adam concludes the video by stressing the significance of subject-verb agreement in clear and effective communication. He warns that a lack of agreement can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of sentences. Adam advises practicing the skill of identifying subjects and verbs to ensure they agree and recommends paying attention to this aspect when reading, especially for those preparing for language proficiency tests like TOEFL or IELTS. He also teases the next video, which will cover different types of subjects and their agreement with verbs, including collective nouns and the use of 'is' or 'are.' Adam encourages viewers to ask questions and subscribe to his channel for more grammar, writing, and vocabulary content.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement refers to the grammatical rule that the subject of a sentence must be matched with a verb that corresponds in number. It is a fundamental aspect of English grammar that ensures the coherence and clarity of written and spoken language. In the video, Adam emphasizes the importance of this agreement, especially in writing, and provides examples to illustrate how it functions within sentences.
💡Clause
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate. In the context of the video, Adam discusses how every sentence has at least one clause, and that each clause must have a subject and a verb that agree with each other. Clauses can be independent (or main clauses), which can stand alone as sentences, or dependent (or subordinate clauses), which cannot stand alone and function as part of a complex sentence.
💡Tense
Tense in grammar refers to the time reference of a verb. It indicates when an action takes place. Adam explains that recognizing the tense of a verb is crucial for subject-verb agreement. For instance, in the present tense, a singular third-person subject requires a verb that ends with an 's', as in 'He has', while plural subjects take a verb without an 's', as in 'They have'.
💡Person
Person in grammar refers to the category of the subject based on their function in the sentence. There are three persons: first person (I, we), second person (you), and third person (he, she, it, they). Adam clarifies that subjects and verbs must agree not only in number but also in person, which affects the form of the verb used.
💡Singular and Plural
Singular and plural are terms used to describe the number of the subject in a sentence. A singular subject is one that refers to a single entity, while a plural subject refers to more than one. Adam explains that a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb to maintain agreement, which is essential for the grammatical correctness of a sentence.
💡Dummy Subject
A dummy subject, also known as an expletive, is a word that is used as the subject of a sentence but does not carry the main meaning. In the video, Adam uses the example 'It is unlikely that Mike's presentation was impressive enough to secure the nomination', where 'it' is a dummy subject, and the real subject of the sentence is the noun clause 'Mike's presentation was impressive'.
💡Noun Clause
A noun clause is a type of subordinate clause that functions as the subject of a sentence. Adam points out that noun clauses are always singular and therefore require a singular verb for agreement. An example from the script is 'that Mike's presentation was impressive', where 'that' introduces the noun clause, which is the true subject of the sentence.
💡Adjective Clause
An adjective clause, also known as a relative clause, is a subordinate clause that modifies or gives more information about a noun. In the video, Adam discusses how an adjective clause can come between the subject and the verb, but the subject and verb must still agree. An example from the script is 'Rosie, whose husband works for the Senator', where 'whose husband works' is an adjective clause providing additional information about Rosie.
💡Compound Predicate
A compound predicate is a predicate that contains more than one verb or verb phrase. In the video, Adam explains that even when verbs are separated by an adjective clause or other elements, they must agree with the subject. An example from the script is 'the husband works and needs', where 'works' and 'needs' are part of a compound predicate agreeing with the singular subject 'husband'.
💡Active and Passive Voice
Active voice and passive voice are two different ways of presenting the same action in a sentence. In active voice, the subject performs the action, while in passive voice, the subject receives the action. Adam discusses the need to ensure logical agreement between the subject and verb, and sometimes a change from active to passive voice is necessary for the sentence to make sense, as illustrated by the example 'the parcels are delivered every Monday'.
💡Imperative Mood
The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. In the video, Adam touches on the imperative mood when discussing subject-verb agreement, noting that the understood subject of an imperative verb is 'you', even though 'you' is not explicitly stated in the sentence. An example from the script is 'Be sure you do not say anything you will regret later', where 'be sure' is an imperative verb commanding the listener to take care.
Highlights

Subject-verb agreement is a crucial element of writing and speaking, especially in formal contexts.

Every sentence has at least one clause, and each clause must have a subject and a verb that agree with each other.

Subjects and verbs must agree in number, person, and logic to ensure proper grammatical structure.

Recognizing whether a subject is singular or plural is essential for correct verb conjugation.

The use of 'S' in verbs depends on the subject's person and number, with exceptions like 'I was'.

Noun clauses are always singular and should be recognized as the subject in complex sentences.

The subject and verb must logically make sense together; otherwise, the sentence may not convey the intended meaning.

In sentences with separated subjects and verbs, maintain focus on their connection to ensure agreement.

Identifying the verb first can help in matching it with the correct subject in complex sentences.

Understanding subject-verb agreement is critical for writing clear and comprehensible sentences.

In the next video, different types of subjects and how they work with verbs will be discussed.

Collective nouns, such as 'staff' or 'police', present unique considerations for subject-verb agreement.

Subject-verb agreement is a key aspect to focus on when preparing for language proficiency tests like TOEFL or IELTS.

Practicing subject-verb agreement can significantly improve the quality of writing in essays and other compositions.

Readers may struggle to understand sentences where the subject and verb do not agree, leading to confusion.

The video provides examples to illustrate how to correctly identify subjects and ensure they agree with their verbs.

Adam, the presenter, encourages viewers to ask questions and engage with the content for better understanding.

Transcripts

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