Subjekt-Verb-Kongruenz (Subject-Verb Agreement)

Die Grundregel

• Singular-Subjekt → Singular-Verb
• Plural-Subjekt → Plural-Verb

Beispiele:

• The dog runs. (Singular)
• The dogs run. (Plural)

Knifflige Fälle

1. Wörter zwischen Subjekt und Verb

Das Subjekt bestimmt das Verb, nicht die Wörter dazwischen.

• The book on the shelves is old. (book is)
• The results of the test were surprising. (results were)
• One of the students is absent. (one is)
• The boxes in the truck are heavy. (boxes are)

2. Zusammengesetzte Subjekte mit “And”

Normalerweise Plural:

• Tom and Jerry are friends.
• The cat and the dog are playing.

Ausnahme - wenn sie eine Einheit bilden:

• Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite. (ein Sandwich)
• The CEO and founder is speaking. (eine Person)

3. Either/Or, Neither/Nor

Das Verb richtet sich nach dem näheren Subjekt:

• Either the teacher or the students are wrong.
• Either the students or the teacher is wrong.
• Neither the book nor the pens are here.
• Neither the pens nor the book is here.

4. Kollektivnomen

Können Singular oder Plural sein, je nach Bedeutung:

Als eine Einheit (Singular):

• The team is winning.
• The class is taking a test.
• The family is on vacation.

Als Individuen (Plural):

• The team are arguing among themselves.
• The jury are divided in their opinions.

5. Indefinitpronomen

Immer Singular:

• Everyone is here.
• Nobody knows the answer.
• Somebody has to help.
• Each is important.
• Either is fine.

Immer Plural:

• Both are correct.
• Few understand this.
• Many have tried.
• Several were absent.

Singular oder Plural (abhängig vom Substantiv):

• Some of the cake is gone. (cake = Singular)
• Some of the cookies are gone. (cookies = Plural)
• All of the water is clean.
• All of the cups are clean.

6. There Is / There Are

Das Verb richtet sich nach dem, was folgt:

• There is a problem. (problem = Singular)
• There are problems. (problems = Plural)

Häufige Fehler

Quiz