Subject-verb agreement is an important rule in English grammar that governs how the subjects and verbs in a sentence should match in number (singular or plural) and person (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) to convey meaning accurately. For grade 6 students, mastering this rule is crucial to enhance their writing and communication skills. In this article, we will discuss some basic subject-verb agreement rules that can help grade 6 students improve their writing.

1. Singular subject and singular verb

When there is a singular subject in a sentence, the verb should be in the singular form as well. For example:

– The dog chases the cat.

– My mother cooks delicious food.

In both sentences, the subject (dog and mother) is singular, so the verb (chases and cooks) is also singular.

2. Plural subject and plural verb

Similarly, when there is a plural subject, the verb should be in the plural form. For example:

– The girls play basketball every day.

– My friends love pizza.

In both sentences, the subjects (girls and friends) are plural, so the verbs (play and love) are also plural.

3. Compound subject and verb

When there is a compound subject (two or more subjects joined by `and`), the verb should be in the plural form. For example:

– John and Mary are good friends.

– Apples, bananas, and oranges are my favorite fruits.

In both sentences, the compound subjects (John and Mary, and Apples, bananas, and oranges) are plural, so the verbs (are) are also plural.

4. Indefinite pronouns and verbs

Indefinite pronouns (such as someone, everybody, nobody, anyone, etc.) are singular, so the verb should be in the singular form as well. For example:

– Everybody knows the answer.

– Someone left their book on the desk.

In the first sentence, the subject (everybody) is singular, so the verb (knows) is also singular. In the second sentence, even though the pronoun `their` is plural, the subject (someone) is singular, so the verb (left) is also singular.

5. Collective nouns and verbs

Collective nouns (such as team, class, family, committee, etc.) can be singular or plural depending on the context. If the collective noun refers to a group acting as one unit, the verb should be in the singular form. For example:

– The class is taking a test.

– The committee has made a decision.

In both sentences, the collective nouns (class and committee) are singular, so the verbs (is and has) are also singular.

However, if the collective noun refers to individual members of the group, the verb should be in the plural form. For example:

– The team are practicing their skills.

– My family love to travel.

In both sentences, the collective nouns (team and family) are plural, so the verbs (are and love) are also plural.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial grammar rule that students should learn to master at an early age. By following these basic rules, grade 6 students can improve their writing and communication skills and convey their ideas accurately and effectively.