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Peng from China: 'I want to design computer games but I don't know English well'

Subject-verb agreement
This week, we hear the first of two programmes about subject-verb agreement. In the challenge, we ask Peng Jin from China to settle a dispute between two students who can't agree on their English homework.

Listen to the programme!

Subject-verb agreement

Singular subjects take singular verbs, but plural or multiple subjects take plural verbs, even when they are separated from their subjects. Subjects with each and every usually take a singular verb.

(Type of subject)	subject	verb
(singular)	My father	*lives*	in Beijing.
(uncountable)	Chinese food	is	delicious.
(single -ing verb)	Living in Beijing	*costs*	a lot of money.
(plural countable)	My brothers	*live*	in Tokyo.
(plural countable)	Chinese pancakes	are	delicious.
(2 –ing verbs)	Reading and writing	are	important skills.
(every)	Every resident	has	to pay tax.
(each)	Each address	is listed	in a special register.

Download Catherine's grammar explanation and table (pdf - 35 K)

Download this programme (mp3 - 1.8 MB)
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Now it's your turn to practise subject-verb agreement. Go to our quiz page on this subject here.

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