The subject and verb must agree in number: both must be singular, or both must be plural. Problems occur in the present tense because one must add an -s or -es at the end of the verb when the subjects or the entity performing the action is a singular third person: he, she, it, or words for which these pronouns could substitute.
I. Singular subject
Singular verb
Tenses
1. 1. He/She/it
verb1 + es/s
simple present
2. 2. He/She/it
is + verb-ing
present continuous
3. 3. He/She/it
was + verb-ing
past continuous
4. 4. He/She/it
Has/have + verb3
present perfect
5. 5. He/She/it
has + been + verb-ing
present perfect continuous
6. 6. He/She/it
Is/are going to + verb1
simple future
7. 7. He/She/It
Is/are going to + be verb-ing
future continuous
8. 8. He/She/it
Was/would + verb1
past future
9. 9. He/She/It
Was/would + be verb-ing
past future continuous
Singular forms in the following examples:
1. 1. The cat sitting on my bed.
2. 2. My mother has a new shirt.
3. 3. I study English everyday.
4. 4. He usually studies English.
5. 5. It doesn’t often sleep in the room.
6. 6. Do I study Math everyday ?
7. 7. Does it sleep behind the room ?
8. 8. I haven’t received a gift.
9. 9. She has lived in Bali since 1990.
10. I have heard this game before.
II. Plural subject
Plural verb
Tense
1. 1. I/we/you/they
verb1
simple present
2. 2. I/we/you/they
am/are + verb-ing
present continuous
3. 3. I/we/you/they
was/were + verb-ing
past continuous
4. 4. I/we/you/they
have+ verb3
present perfect
5. 5. I/we/you/they
have + been + verb-ing
present perfect continuous
6. 6. I/we/you/they
am/are going to + verb1
simple future
7. 7. I/we/you/they
am/are going to + be verb-ing
future continuous
8. 8. I/we/you/they
was/were going to + verb1
past future
9. 9. I/we/you/they
was/were going to + be verb-ing
past future continuous
Plural forms in the following examples:
1. 1. There are five pencils on my desk.
2. 2. They are riding their bikes.
3. 3. Susan has four posters.
4. 4. How many books do you have in your bag?
5. 5. There are three windows in the room.
6. 6. We sing a song once a day
7. 7. We have to go home now.
8. 8. We were reading the lesson.
9. 9. They were buying the Math books.
10. Were they listening to radio ?