homegrammarvocabularyquizDaily Lesson
Subject-Verb Agreement Across Tenses

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule in English grammar that ensures the subject and verb in a sentence correspond correctly in number and person. This rule applies in all tenses, making it essential to grasp how it functions in different grammatical structures. Lets explore subject-verb agreement across various tenses with detailed explanations and examples.

1. Present Tense
Simple Present

Subject + Base Verb (+s/es for third person singular)

This tense is often used for habitual actions, general truths, and facts.

  • She writes every day.

  • They write every day.

  • The sun rises in the east.

  • Birds sing in the morning.

Present Continuous

Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing

Describes ongoing actions happening right now.

  • He is writing a book.

  • We are writing a report.

  • The baby is crying loudly.

  • They are watching a movie.

Present Perfect

Subject + has/have + Past Participle

Expresses actions that happened at an unspecified time before now or began in the past and continue into the present.

  • She has written a novel.

  • They have written many articles.

  • He has visited Japan three times.

  • We have finished our homework.

Present Perfect Continuous

Subject + has/have been + Verb-ing

Indicates actions that started in the past and are still continuing.

  • He has been writing for hours.

  • We have been writing letters all day.

  • She has been studying since morning.

  • They have been working on this project for weeks.

2. Past Tense
Simple Past

Subject + Past Verb

Used to describe completed actions in the past.

  • She wrote a letter.

  • They wrote letters.

  • He traveled to Spain last year.

  • We finished the project on time.

Past Continuous

Subject + was/were + Verb-ing

Describes ongoing past actions that were interrupted by another event.

  • He was writing an essay.

  • They were writing all night.

  • She was cooking when the phone rang.

  • We were playing outside when it started raining.

Past Perfect

Subject + had + Past Participle

Expresses an action that was completed before another past event.

  • She had written a book before.

  • They had written many reports.

  • He had finished his meal before they arrived.

  • We had left the house before the storm began.

Past Perfect Continuous

Subject + had been + Verb-ing

Shows that an action was happening for a duration before another event in the past.

  • He had been writing for two hours.

  • We had been writing since morning.

  • She had been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes.

  • They had been working at the company for five years before quitting.

3. Future Tense
Simple Future

Subject + will + Base Verb

Describes actions that will happen in the future.

  • She will write a book.

  • They will write a story.

  • He will travel to Italy next summer.

  • We will complete the project soon.

Future Continuous

Subject + will be + Verb-ing

Describes an ongoing action that will happen at a specific future time.

  • He will be writing an essay.

  • We will be writing reports.

  • She will be studying at 8 PM.

  • They will be driving home at this time tomorrow.

Future Perfect

Subject + will have + Past Participle

Expresses an action that will be completed before a certain point in the future.

  • She will have written a book by next year.

  • They will have written many reports.

  • He will have finished his assignment before the deadline.

  • We will have moved to a new house by then.

Future Perfect Continuous

Subject + will have been + Verb-ing

Describes an action that will continue up to a point in the future.

  • He will have been writing for three hours.

  • We will have been writing since morning.

  • She will have been practicing the piano for years.

  • They will have been working on this project for months.

Common Mistakes and Tips

🔹 Singular vs. Plural Errors:

Incorrect: She write a book. Correct: She writes a book.

✔️ Correct: The dog barks loudly.

🔹 Inconsistent Verb Forms:

Incorrect: They has written a report.

Incorrect: He have gone to school.

✔️Correct: He has gone to school.

🔹 Confusion with Collective Nouns:

✔️ The team are arguing. (As individuals)

✔️ The family is watching TV.

✔️ The family are packing their bags.

By mastering subject-verb agreement in different tenses, you can significantly enhance your writing and speaking skills. Keep practicing these rules, and they will soon become second nature! 🚀