Pronoun-verb agreement
Key Notes:
👌The subject and the verb in a sentence must agree.
👌The subject pronouns she, he and it name only one person or thing, so they are singular. When a subject is singular, use a singular verb. Singular verbs end in -s or -es.
- He watches the neighbour’s baby.
- It needs a new lock.
👌The subject pronouns we and they name more than one person or thing, so they are plural. The pronoun you can also be plural. When a subject is plural, use a plural verb. Plural verbs usually do not end in -s or -es.
- We walk home.
- They finish early.
👌The singular subject pronouns I and you do not follow these rules. They name only one person or thing, but they should be used with plural verbs.
- You sing better than I do!
- I close the windows at night.
Learn with an example
🌀 Complete the sentence with the best subject pronoun.
______ clean the house.
- They
- He
- Look at the verb, clean. It is a plural verb.
- Now look at the answer choices.
- The subject pronoun they is plural, so it should be used with a plural verb.
- they clean
- The subject pronoun he is singular, so it should be used with a singular verb.
- he cleans
- So, the best subject pronoun to complete the sentence is they.
🌀 Complete the sentence with the best verb.
It ____ like Grandpa.
- looks
- look
- Look at the subject pronoun, it. It is singular, so it goes with a singular verb. Singular verbs end in -s or -es.
- it looks
- So, the best verb to complete the sentence is looks.
🌀 Complete the sentence with the best verb.
We _____ at Grandma.
- grin
- grins
- Look at the subject pronoun, we. It is plural, so it goes with a plural verb. Plural verbs do not end in -s or -es.
- we grin
- So, the best verb to complete the sentence is grin.
Let’s practice!🖊️
