17.2. Subject Pronouns (I, You, He, She, It, We, They): Pronoun Agreement with Verbs

Understanding Subject Pronouns and Pronoun Agreement with Verbs

In the journey of learning English, one of the foundational elements is understanding subject pronouns and their agreement with verbs. Subject pronouns are essential in constructing sentences, as they replace nouns and indicate who or what is performing the action in a sentence. In this lesson, we will explore the subject pronouns: I, You, He, She, It, We, and They. We will also delve into how these pronouns agree with verbs, a crucial aspect of forming grammatically correct sentences.

What are Subject Pronouns?

Subject pronouns are pronouns that take the place of the subject in a sentence. They are used to avoid repetition and make sentences clearer and more concise. Here is a list of subject pronouns:

• I - used by the speaker to refer to themselves.
• You - used to refer to the person or people being spoken to.
• He - used to refer to a male subject.
• She - used to refer to a female subject.
• It - used to refer to a non-human subject or an object.
• We - used by the speaker to refer to themselves and one or more other people.
• They - used to refer to two or more people or things.

Pronoun Agreement with Verbs

Pronoun agreement with verbs is the grammatical rule that dictates that verbs must agree in number and person with their subjects. This means that the form of the verb must change depending on the subject pronoun.

Singular Subject Pronouns

Let's begin with singular subject pronouns: I, You, He, She, and It. Each of these pronouns requires specific verb forms.

• I: The verb form that follows "I" is typically the base form of the verb, except in the case of the verb "to be" where it is "am". For example:
  • I am a student.
  • I like apples.
• You: The verb form that follows "you" is usually the base form of the verb, except for "to be" where it is "are". For example:
  • You are a teacher.
  • You play soccer.
• He/She/It: The verb form that follows these pronouns often ends in "s" or "es" in the present simple tense. For example:
  • He is a doctor.
  • She likes chocolate.
  • It rains often here.

Plural Subject Pronouns

Now, let’s look at plural subject pronouns: We and They. These pronouns generally use the base form of the verb.

• We: The verb form is typically the base form, except for "to be" where it is "are". For example:
  • We are friends.
  • We enjoy reading.
• They: Similar to "we", the verb form is the base form, except for "to be" where it is "are". For example:
  • They are musicians.
  • They travel often.

Special Cases and Exceptions

While the rules above cover the majority of cases, there are some special considerations and exceptions in English grammar:

Irregular Verbs

Some verbs are irregular and do not follow the standard patterns described above. Common irregular verbs include "to be", "to have", and "to do". Here are examples of these irregular verbs with subject pronouns:

• To be:
  • I am
  • You are
  • He/She/It is
  • We are
  • They are
• To have:
  • I have
  • You have
  • He/She/It has
  • We have
  • They have
• To do:
  • I do
  • You do
  • He/She/It does
  • We do
  • They do

Third Person Singular

In the present simple tense, when using third person singular pronouns (he, she, it), verbs typically take an "s" or "es" ending. This is a common point of confusion for learners, so it is important to practice and remember this rule. For example:

• He runs every morning.
• She watches TV in the evening.
• It needs water.

Practice and Application

To master subject pronouns and their agreement with verbs, practice is crucial. Here are some exercises to help reinforce your understanding:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses:

1. I ____ (to be) happy.
2. They ____ (to have) a car.
3. She ____ (to like) coffee.
4. We ____ (to play) soccer.
5. He ____ (to do) his homework.

Exercise 2: Sentence Construction

Create sentences using the given subject pronouns and verbs:

• I - (to read)
• You - (to write)
• He - (to swim)
• We - (to cook)
• They - (to sing)

Exercise 3: Correct the Errors

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences:

1. She go to school every day.
2. They is playing in the park.
3. He have a new bike.
4. We was late for the meeting.
5. It need more salt.

Conclusion

Understanding subject pronouns and their agreement with verbs is a fundamental step in mastering English grammar. By practicing these concepts, you will be able to construct sentences more accurately and confidently. Remember that consistency and practice are key to mastering these grammatical rules. Keep practicing, and soon, using subject pronouns and verb agreements will become second nature to you!

Next page of the Free Ebook:

45Subject Pronouns (I, You, He, She, It, We, They): Pronoun Usage in Different Contexts

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