ParaPro Assesment Practice Exam

What do you call it when a subject and verb match in singular or plural form?

1. Pronoun agreement

2. Subject-verb agreement

3. Predicate structure

4. Clause coordination

The correct answer is: Subject-verb agreement

The correct answer is subject-verb agreement, which is a fundamental grammatical principle in English that ensures subjects and verbs align in number—either both singular or both plural. When a singular subject is paired with a singular verb, or a plural subject with a plural verb, the sentence maintains clarity and correctness. For example, in the sentence “The cat runs,” both the subject “cat” and the verb “runs” are singular, creating agreement. Similarly, in the sentence “The dogs bark,” the plural subject “dogs” matches with the plural verb “bark.” This agreement is crucial for effective communication, making it easy for readers to understand the relationship between the subject and action. The other options do not relate directly to this concept. Pronoun agreement pertains to ensuring pronouns correctly reflect the number and gender of the nouns they replace. Predicate structure focuses on the arrangement and role of the predicate within a sentence. Clause coordination deals with how independent and dependent clauses work together but does not specifically address subject-verb correspondence. Thus, subject-verb agreement specifically captures the essence of matching singular or plural forms between subjects and verbs.