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Myriora English › Grammar and punctuation › Chapter 2: Sentences

Subject and verb agree

Ages 7–9Chapter 2 · Lesson 6

In this lesson

Your turn

Which verb fits? One of my sisters blank a pony.

Show the answer

Has! The subject is one, so we say one of my sisters has a pony.

The common mistake

Here's a common mistake. Lots of people say we was. But we means more than one person, so we use were. We were going to the park.

Try it at home

One or more? Say a sentence about one thing (The cat sleeps.), then the other person changes it to more than one (The cats sleep.). Notice where the s moves.

Read the whole lesson

Hello, and welcome to Myriora English! The subject is who or what a sentence is about. The verb has to match it. The dog barks. The dogs bark.

With one dog, we say the dog barks, with an S on the verb. With more than one, we say the dogs bark, with no S on the verb. It's the opposite of the noun! The same goes for is and are: the cake is ready, the cakes are ready. And for was and were: he was late, they were late.

Watch out for words in between. One of the boys is late. The subject is one, not boys, so we use is. The box of pencils is on the desk. There's only one box, so it's is.

Let's try one together. Is or are? My friends blank coming to tea. Say it out loud!

Are! My friends are coming to tea. Friends means more than one, so we use are. Well done if you said are!

Here's a common mistake. Lots of people say we was. But we means more than one person, so we use were. We were going to the park.

Your turn! Which verb fits? One of my sisters blank a pony. Pick the right card. You've got eight seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! Has! The subject is one, so we say one of my sisters has a pony.

Quick review. The verb must match its subject. For one: the dog barks, the cake is. For more than one: the dogs bark, the cakes are. Find the real subject, even with words in between. See you next time!