62] Advanced English Grammar | Subject-Verb Agreement ( Part 1 )

Master subject–verb agreement in English with clear rules and natural examples. In this 17-minute lesson we cover simple vs. compound subjects, how to find the main noun, inversion, clause subjects, special what-clauses, collective nouns, and names/titles that look plural but act singular. Ideal for intermediate to advanced ESL learners, exam prep, and anyone who wants to stop guessing and start using the correct verb forms confidently.

⏱ Video length: 17:00

Timestamps

0:00 — Introduction — What we’ll cover and why subject–verb agreement matters
0:30 — Simple subjects — definition + example (“Sam goes…”)
2:00 — Compound subjects — the rule: verb agrees with the main noun
4:00 — Compound subject examples — “many leading members of the opposition party…” / “the only excuse that he gave…”
6:00 — Inversion — when the subject follows the verb (examples: “Among the people invited was the mayor.” / “Displayed on a board were the exam results.”)
7:30 — Subjects that are clauses — clauses as subjects + singular-verb rule (“To keep… is inhuman.” / “Whoever took them remains…”)
9:30 — What-clauses — special case: agreement depends on the noun that follows the verb (“What worries us is…”, “What is needed are…”)
11:30 — Collective nouns — singular vs plural use and when focus on individuals matters (council, committee, school)
13:30 — Names & titles ending in -s — treat as singular (e.g., The Netherlands, The Los Angeles Times, The Philippines, The United States)
15:30 — Recap — quick checklist to decide the correct verb form
16:30 — Outro & CTA — subscribe, like, and next lessons

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Examples covered (quick reference)
• Simple subject: Sam goes to the cinema every weekend.
• Compound subject (main noun = members): Many leading members of the opposition party have criticized the delay.
• Long compound subject (main noun = excuse): The only excuse that he gave for his actions was that he was tired.
• Inversion: Among the people invited was the mayor. / Displayed on a board were the exam results.
• Clause subject: To keep these young people in prison is inhuman. / Whoever took them remains a mystery.
• What-clause: What worries us is the poor selection process. / What is needed are additional resources.
• Collective noun: The committee usually raise their hands (focus on individuals). / The school is to close next year (as a unit).
• Titles ending in -s: The Netherlands is one hour ahead of the UK. / The Los Angeles Times lists…

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Key takeaways
• With compound subjects, let the main noun (not the word immediately before the verb) decide the verb form.
• In inversion, the subject follows the verb — make the verb agree with that subject.
• If the subject is a clause, use a singular verb.
• What-clauses agree with the noun that follows the verb; plural follow-ups often require a plural verb.
• Collective nouns can take singular or plural verbs depending on whether you mean the group as one unit or its members individually.
• Names/titles ending in -s are often singular — treat them as single entities.

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Suggested tags / keywords

subject-verb agreement, compound subject, inversion, collective nouns, what clauses, ESL grammar, English grammar lesson, grammar tips, English for learners, verb agreement, IELTS grammar

Видео 62] Advanced English Grammar | Subject-Verb Agreement ( Part 1 ) канала Pure English