Verb Agreement

Verbs agree with their subject in number (singular or plural) and in person (first, second, third).

Present Tense forms of Love (a typical verb)

Present tense forms of have

Present tense form of do

Present tense forms of be

Past tense forms of be

Exceptions

Exceptions in forming verbs

With subjects connected by or or nor (or by either . . . or or neither . . . nor ), make the verb agree with the part of the subject nearer to verb.

• Mary or John is going to the game.
• Mary or the Smiths are going to the game.

Treat most indefinite pronouns as singular.  Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific persons or things, words such as anybody, anyone, everybody, everyone, etc.

• Everyone loves our teacher, Dr. Doolittle.
• Everybody who went to his class was happy with his teaching.

Treat collective nouns as singular unless the meaning is clearly plural.  Collective nouns name a class or a group, for example jury, committee, class, etc.

• The class enjoys his ideas.
• The class are discussing their papers.

  Make the verb agree with its subject even when the subject follows the verb.

• There are only a few who do not like him.

There is/are and it is/are are vague phrases which are used to hold the subject and verb positions in a sentence.  Revising the sentence makes it clear which verb to use.  The meaning of the sentence is Only a few do not like him.  A few is plural so the plural verb is needed.  The revised sentence, incidentally, is more direct so would be more appropriate than the other sentence.  

 Standard Forms

Be aware of the standard forms of verbs.

In English verbs have five forms

Consult A Writer’s Reference pp. 175 – 7 for a list of irregular verbs.

Choose the appropriate verb tense to indicate when an action happened.

Simple Present – expresses action happening now

Simple past – expresses action which happened in the past

Simple future – expresses action which will happen in the future

Present Perfect – expresses action completed at the present time

Past perfect – expresses action completed at a specified or implied past time – also called pluperfect

Future Perfect – expresses action completed by a specific time in the future

Present progressive – describes actions in progress at the present time

Past progressive – describes actions in progress at a specified time in the past

Future progressive – describes actions that will be in progress in the future

Mood

Mood

English verbs not only express person, number, and time of action, but they also express mood.

Indicative is used for declare facts and opinions or to ask questions.

• Snow has fallen in every month of the year in Spearfish, SD.
• We have a good basketball team.
• Will you go the the game with me?

Imperative is used to issue orders or give advice.

• Shovel the walk, please.
• Do your homework as soon as it is assigned.

Subjunctive is used to express wishes, requests, or conditions contrary to fact.

• If I were you, I would study more
• If I were a member of Congress, I would vote for that bill.
• I wish that Dr. K. were my professor.

Active v. Passive

Active vs. Passive Verbs

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence does the action.

• The committee reached a decision.

In the passive voice the subject receives the action.

• A decision was reached by the committee.  

Both active and passive constructions are grammatically correct, but active verbs are usually more effective because they are simpler and more direct.