0 Subject-Verb Agreement

1. Singular Subject - Singular Verb

       The definition of the subject is singular subject pronoun he, she, and it, or nouns that can be replaced by he, she or it: While the definition of singular verbs are verb1 + es / s, is / was, and the verb phrase such as: is / + was verb-ing/verb3, has verb3 +, has been verb-ing and has been verb3.


Singular patterns of subject-verb singular is presented in the following table:

  If the sentence does not use the verb, we used to be:

2. Plural Subject - Plural Verb

       The definition of plural subject is a subject pronouns like I, we, you, They, and all plural nouns. While the definition of plural verbs are verbs and verb phrases other than verbs in the singular. 
Patterns of plural subject, plural verb is presented in the following table:

  If the sentence does not use the verb (nominal sentence), it used to be:

 Examples:

 What about subject-verb agreement in the other tenses are not mentioned above?

Form of verb or verb phrase in the tense-tense that are not mentioned either when the subject is singular or plural it is the same.

Examples :
 
Contoh:

1. The elevator worked very well yesterday.
2. The elevators worked very well yesterday.

1. Andi had gone before Ani arrived.
2. Andi and Amir had gone before Ani arrived.

1. My mother will go to Bali tomorrow.
2. My mother and my father will go to Bali tomorrow.

1. Jenny would have passed the test if she had studied well.
2. Jenny and Julie would have passed the test if they had studied well.

In the examples above, we see that the subject was immediately followed by a verb. Next, let's discuss the subject-verb agreement when the subject is separated by a propositional phrase or by the expressions.


A. Subject - verb agreement when it is separated by a propositional phrase

       If the subject with the verb are separated by a propositional phrase (two or more words are preceded by a preposition), propositional phraseini no effect on the verb. Of particular interest is what the sentence subject. If his subject is singular then the verb must also be its singular, whereas if its subject-verb plural then it must also be plural.

Examples:

1. The study of languages is very interesting. (singular subject)
2. Several theories on this subject have been debated. (plural subject)
3. The view of these disciplines varies from time to time. (singular subject)
4. The danger of forest fires is not to be taken seriously. (singular subject)
5. The effects of that crime are likely to be devastating. (plural subject)
6. The fear of rape and robbery has caused many people to flee the cities. (singular subject)
7. The boys in the room are studying (plural subject). (Anak-anak di dalam kamar sedang belajar)

B. Subject - verb agreement when it is separated by together with, along with, as well as

       In addition to the above propositional phrases, expressions such as together with, along with, accompanied by, and as well as, nor does it affect the verb. 

Contoh:

1. The actress, along with her manager and some friends, is going to a party tonight.
2. Mr. Julianto, accompanied by his wife and children, is arriving tonight.
3. My wife as well as I is a volleyball player.

with use together, along with, accompanied by, and as well as, in a pattern like this only adds additional information. If the expression is omitted, the core meaning of the sentence is not changed, namely:

1. The actress is going to a party tonight.
2. Mr. Julianto is arriving tonight.
3. My wife is a volleyball player.

Conversely, if the conjunction 'and' is used to replace the above expressions, the verb was changed to plural. 

 

Examples:

1. The actress and her manager are going to a party tonight.
2. Mr. Julinto and his wife and children are arriving tonight.
3. My wife and I are volleyball players.

Source : swarabhaskara