Elements of Subject/Verb Agreement

In a well-constructed sentence, subjects and verbs are linked and must agree; they must match in form, according to person (first, second, or third) and number (singular or plural). In addition, every verb must take the correct tense in the context of the sentence.

Person

A verb must have the same person as the subject.

• 1st person: I am eating lunch.
• 2nd person: You are eating lunch.
• 3rd person: He/She/It is eating lunch. or They are eating lunch.

In addition to agreeing in person, subject and verb must agree in number, which is either singular or plural.

Number

• 1st person, singular: I have a headache today.
• 2nd person, singular: You are my best friend in the entire world!
• 3rd person, singular: It/He/She was interesting today.
• 1st person, plural: We make amazing barbecue.
• 2nd person, plural: You are going to work in pairs for this assignment.
• 3rd person, plural: They enjoy suspense novels.

If the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb should be too, and plural verbs should accompany plural nouns.

In the present tense, singular nouns are typically accompanied by verbs that end in “s” (“he runs,” “she plays,” “the man cries”), while plural nouns accompany verbs without an added “s” (“we run,” “they play,” “the men cry”).

Note that the “s” is only added if the subject is singular and in the third person (a noun or “he,” “she,” or “it”); “s” is not added if the subject is “I” or “you.”

Tense

Verb tense provides you with information about when the action took place. Actions take place in the present, in the past, or in the future. Here are some useful verb tenses to learn:

• Simple Past: the action took place in the past and is completed.

Jenny worked a double shift at the mall yesterday.

• Past Progressive: the action was taking place in the past when some other action took place.

Yousef was working at the mall last night when the fire alarm sounded.

• Past Perfect: the action took place before another specified point in time or action in the past.

Karsa had worked at the mall before she went to college.

• Simple Present: the action takes place regularly or repeatedly.

Vadim works at the mall after school. (He works there regularly.)

• Present Progressive: the action is taking place now.

Dabria is working at the mall until 9 o’clock tonight.

• Present Perfect: the action began in the past and is ongoing.

Gable has worked at the mall for the last two years.

• Future: the action will take place in the future.

Pacey will work more hours at the mall next summer.

• Future Progressive: the action will be taking place in the future when some other action will take place.

Tadashi will be working at the mall when his friends begin gathering for his surprise party.

• Future Perfect: the action took place before another specified action or point in time in the future.

Obrecht will have worked over three years at the mall when he graduates next spring.

Some special verb tenses:

Habitual actions in the past using would and used to: the action took place on a regular basis in the past.

Examples:

When I was a boy, I would buy a root beer float every chance I could.

or: When I was a boy, I used to buy a root beer float every chance I could.

Near future with progressive tenses of go: the action is upcoming relative to past or present.

Examples:

I was going to call you, but I could not find my phone.

or: The girls are going to have dinner before the movie tonight.