Verbs and Sentences
Matching the verb
Choose the verb form that agrees with the subject.
A sentence has somebody or something doing the action — the subject — and a word for the action itself — the verb. The two have to match. Get one wrong and the sentence sounds off even to somebody who cannot say why.
The rule that catches most people
When the subject is one person or thing, the verb usually ends in s. He sings. The kettle boils. When the subject is more than one, it does not. They sing. The kettles boil.
Yes, it is back to front
An s on a noun means more than one: dogs. An s on a verb means only one: barks. The same letter does opposite work, which is exactly why this is worth practising.
be and have
These two do not follow the pattern, so they are worth learning by heart. I am, he is, they are. I have, he has, they have.
Find the subject first
Ask who or what is doing the action. In "the bunch of keys is heavy", the subject is the bunch, not the keys — so the verb goes with bunch.
Worked example
Choose the verb: "My cousins ____ (live) in another city."
Find the subject: my cousins.
The verb matches the subject, so nothing can be decided until you have found it.
Try it together
Let us match the verb to three different subjects.
The verb is "play" for the first two, then "be" for the last. Each answer is one word.
1.Write the verb: My brother ____ the flute every evening.
Have a go
The parrots ____ on the wire outside my window.
Ready to practise?
Eight questions on what you have just read. Nothing is timed, and you can play as many times as you like.