Subject Verb

agreement

Tips for the AWA section

of the GRE

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What makes an
excellent essay?

Sound Logic and Reasoning supported

by apt examples

Excellent Presentation and Flow

Absolutely minimal grammatical

errors

This slide addresses

Subject Verb agreement
This tip is related to Grammar

What is wrong here?

Other subjects are comfortable,
but mathematics are difficult
for me.

Lets review the rules

for Subject-Verb
agreement.
The correct statement is:
Other subjects are comfortable, but
mathematics is difficult for me.

What is Subject Verb agreement?

The verb of the sentence should agree with the subject of
the sentence in number.
The dog chases the cat.
Singular Singular
Noun
Verb

The dogs chase the cat.

Plural
Noun

Plural
Verb

Note

A Plural noun adds s at the end (Dogs, Cats). On

the other hand, a Plural verb eliminates s (chase)
A Singular noun eliminates s at the end (Dog, Cat).
On the other hand, a Singular verb adds s
(chases)

Some more examples

Single subject

Boy plays in the ground.

Boys play in the ground.

Verb will loose s when it

becomes plural.

Compound subject

Tara and Noah play in the ground.

Subject is plural, hence Verb

is play (plural verb that will
loose s)

Propositional Phrases
The

jar
Singular
Noun

of milk chocolates

sits

Propositional
Phrase

Singular
Verb

on the shelf.

Note
The subject here is : The jar (singular)
The subject is not milk chocolates (plural)
The verb sit applies to the subject jar which is
singular. Hence the singular form of sit should be
used.

The singular form of verb sit is sits

Proximity Rule
The verb agrees
with the
subject
nearer to it.

Collective Nouns
The

jury
Singular
Noun

has

awarded the custody to the grandmother.

Singular
Verb

The jury members have been arguing for days.

Plural
Noun

Plural
Verb

Collective Nouns like (group, jury, crowd,

team, etc.) may be singular or plural,
depending on meaning.

Choose the Verb form accordingly.

More Examples

Either of the twins is responsible for the broken window

pane.

The naughty twins are responsible for this mess.

The management is responsible for the violence in the

factory premises.

The management and the union are responsible for the

abysmally low turnover from the factory.

It is not clear whether the management or the union is

responsible for the poor turnover.

It is not clear whether the management or the workers are

responsible for the poor turnover.

It is not clear if it is the workers or the management who

is responsible for the poor turnover.

Give it a try!
Everyone who (have) 1. ___ ever been to a graduation
(know) 2.___ how exciting it can be for the graduates.
In our town, nearly the whole population (come) 3.___ each
year. There (is) 4.___ one thing that both graduates and
guests (enjoys): 5.___ - the awarding of scholarships.
This ceremony, along with the closing exercises, (make) 6.___
attending the graduation worthwhile. Several of the
students who (receives) 7.___ awards (plan) 8.____ to
attend the community college.
Many former graduates (is) 9.____ grateful for opportunities
that such an award (provide) 10.____.
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