Question 1

What is subject-verb agreement in English?

Accepted Answer

Subject-verb agreement means the verb must match the subject in number. A singular subject (one person or thing) needs a singular verb: "The boy runs" — one boy, so the verb adds -s. A plural subject (more than one) needs a plural verb: "The boys run" — more than one, so the verb has no -s. This rule applies in the present simple tense, where singular verbs add -s (walks, eats, plays) and plural verbs do not (walk, eat, play). Correct agreement shows you understand basic English sentence structure, and examiners test it from A1 level upwards.

Question 2

When do I add -s to a verb in present simple?

Accepted Answer

Add -s to the base verb when the subject is third-person singular: he, she, it, or any single person or thing. "She works in a hospital" — one person, so the verb takes -s. Do not add -s when the subject is plural (they run, we eat) or when the subject is "I" or "you" — these always take the base form without -s. Some verbs need -es instead: after -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, or -o, add -es (watches, washes, goes). Verbs ending in consonant + y change to -ies (carry becomes carries, study becomes studies). These spelling patterns are worth learning early.

Question 3

Does the pronoun "you" take a singular or plural verb?

Accepted Answer

"You" always takes the plural verb form, whether you are speaking to one person or many. Say "You are my friend" (one person) and "You are my friends" (many people) — the verb "are" stays the same. In present simple, "you" uses the base form without -s: "You like music," not "You likes music." The pronoun "I" behaves in the same way — it always takes the base form: "I like music," "I am happy." Only the third-person singular pronouns "he," "she," and "it" need the verb form with -s.

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