Tuesday, August 28, 2007

S-V Agreement: Don't and Doesn't

I heard this mistake the other week: "I hope your students doesn't see you dressed like that." This is clearly wrong; "students" is a plural subject, therefore, a plural verb is needed. In this case, the correct sentence should be: "I hope your students don't see you dressed like that."

Remember the rule: a singular subject requires a singular verb, a plural subject requires a plural verb. I don't know why I often hear people confusing doesn't and don't. I have a feeling that this happens because of the "s" sound in doesn't. We do associate the "s" sound with multiple items, people, ideas, etc.

Don't forget this rule.

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