Language term
Subject-verb agreement
Matching a verb to its subject in number, as in she was, not she were.
What it means
Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person. A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb, as in the dog barks but the dogs bark. Agreement errors often creep in when words come between the subject and the verb.
They also appear when the subject is a tricky collective or indefinite word such as team or everyone. Getting agreement right is basic to accurate, professional writing. Errors are small but noticeable, and they undermine the impression a piece makes.
Why it matters in the exam
In every writing task, subject-verb agreement is part of technical accuracy, and repeated errors lower marks and distract the reader. It is a common slip, especially in longer sentences where the subject and verb are far apart. Checking for it during proofreading protects your accuracy marks.
Secure agreement is a sign of careful, controlled writing, and examiners notice when it is consistently correct across a whole response.
Example
The box of old letters was heavy is correct. The singular subject box takes was, even though the nearby plural letters can tempt a writer to write were.
How to use it
Identify the true subject of each verb, ignoring words that come between them, and match the verb to it in number. Take extra care with collective nouns and words like each or everyone, which are singular. When proofreading, check long sentences in particular.
Agreement errors most often appear when other words separate the subject and verb.
Knowing the term is the first step. In a paid one-hour trial, a teacher helps your child use "Subject-verb agreement" accurately in an answer.