Subject Verb Agreement Ielts Buddy

Subject-verb agreement is an essential grammatical rule that needs to be followed while writing the IELTS exam. It is vital to use the right verb that agrees with the subject to ensure clear and effective communication.

In simple terms, subject-verb agreement refers to having a subject and verb that match in number. For instance, if the subject is singular, then the verb should also be singular, and if the subject is plural, then the verb should also be plural.

The IELTS exam consists of both written and spoken sections, and having a good command of subject-verb agreement is crucial to perform well in both. Here are a few tips to help you maneuver this aspect of the IELTS exam:

1. Identify the subject and the verb

To maintain subject-verb agreement, you must first identify the subject and the verb by understanding the basic sentence structure. The subject is the person or thing that performs the action, and the verb is the action itself.

For example, in the sentence `The cat jumps on the table,` `cat` is the subject, and `jumps` is the verb.

2. Pay attention to the number of the subject

The verb must agree with the number of the subject. If the subject is singular, then the verb should also be singular. If the subject is plural, then the verb should also be plural.

For example, if the subject is `dog,` the verb should be `barks,` but if the subject is `dogs,` the verb should be `bark.`

3. Be careful with compound subjects

When two or more subjects are combined with `and,` the verb should be plural. However, if the subjects are joined by `or` or `nor,` the verb should agree with the subject closest to it.

For example, `John and Mary are going to the mall.` Here, `John` and `Mary` are the subjects, and `are` is the verb.

4. Watch out for indefinite pronouns and nouns

Indefinite pronouns or nouns refer to people or things that are not specifically identified. Words such as `someone,` `anyone,` `everyone,` `something,` and `anything` are some examples. In such cases, the verb should be singular.

For example, `Someone is knocking at the door.`

5. Practice, practice, practice

Finally, to master subject-verb agreement, it is essential to practice regularly. Dedicate some time each day to write sentences and check for errors in subject-verb agreement.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial part of the IELTS exam and a fundamental grammatical rule that needs to be followed. By paying attention to the number of the subject, being careful with compound subjects, watching out for indefinite pronouns and nouns, and practicing regularly, you can improve your command over the English language and perform well in the IELTS exam.