Subject-Verb Agreement in Action: Why 'The Park Boasts Beautiful Flowers' Uses a Singular Verb

Let’s start with a tiny, powerful idea: one small word can steer a whole sentence. That word is the verb. In English, matching the verb to its subject is what we call subject-verb agreement. It sounds technical, but it’s really about keeping ideas clear and easy to follow. When the subject is singular, the verb wears a singular form. When the subject is plural, the verb wears a plural form. Simple as that—and surprisingly easy to forget when a sentence gets busy.

A quick look at a concrete example

Here’s a familiar little quiz you might see in a grammar set or a quick sentence check:

• A. The trees grow taller

• B. The dogs bark loudly

• C. The park boasts beautiful flowers

• D. The children play outside

The correct answer is C: The park boasts beautiful flowers. Why? Because “the park” is a singular noun. It’s one park, so the verb needs to be singular too. “Boasts” is the singular form of the verb “to boast.” The subject and the verb agree.

Now pause for a moment and compare with the others. A, B, and D all have plural subjects—trees, dogs, children—and the verbs match: grow, bark, play. It’s a tidy little demonstration of how the number of the subject guides the form of the verb.

Let me explain the heart of the idea

Think of subject-verb agreement as a handshake across the sentence: the subject says, “I’m singular,” or “I’m plural,” and the verb mirrors that identity. When the subject changes number, the verb must reflect that change. If it doesn’t, the sentence feels off, like a tuning fork that’s out of tune. Your reader has to pause, re-read, and sometimes stumble—no one wants that. Clarity, rhythm, trust in what you’re saying—that’s what good grammar helps you protect.

A friendly stroll through the tricky parts

You might wonder: what about phrases between the subject and the verb? They can be sneaky. For example:

• The bouquet of flowers in the vase is beautiful.

• The bouquet of flowers in the vase are beautiful. (Sounds wrong to most ears, even though “flowers” is plural. The real subject is “bouquet,” a singular noun that governs the verb.)

Here, the key is to pin down the main subject, not every noun that appears in the sentence. If you can spot the head noun—the core subject—you’ll pick the right verb much more often.

Another common pitfall comes with collective nouns. In American English, a group, team, or committee is often treated as singular (The committee approves the plan). British English can tilt toward plural (The committee approve the plan). The important thing is to know which variant you’re using and to stay consistent. Consistency is a quiet hero in writing.

Why this matters beyond grammar worksheets

Good subject-verb agreement isn’t just about ticking boxes. It affects how readers experience your writing. When sentences click—subject and verb lined up neatly—your ideas flow with less effort. You sound confident, even when you’re dealing with something technical or abstract. And yes, it matters in more than essays: clear emails, reports, and even chats with teammates all benefit from careful agreement.

A few more friendly examples to ground the concept

• The cat sits on the windowsill, and the sunlight warms the fur. (Here, “cat” is singular; “sits” is singular.)

• The cats sit on the windowsills, and the sunlight warms the fur. (Now “cats” is plural; “sit” is plural.)

• The rain makes the streets slick in the evening. (Singular “rain” leads to singular “makes.”)

• The raindrops make the windows glitter when the sun returns. (Plural “raindrops” with plural “make.”)

Sometimes sentences get longer and more complex. That’s where the rule still holds, but you have to track the main subject carefully. If the subject is “the stack of papers,” that stack is singular, so the verb should be singular too: The stack of papers is on the desk. If you shift the head to “the stacks of papers,” then the verb should be plural: The stacks of papers are on the desk.

A practical approach you can use in everyday writing

Here’s a simple, reliable method you can apply without fuss:

• First, find the subject. Circle it in your mind or write it down.

• Then ask: Is the subject singular or plural?

• Finally, choose the verb form that matches.

One quick trick that helps with longer sentences: ignore phrases that come between the subject and the verb. For example:

• The group of students who volunteer after school is/are planning a spring fundraiser.

Here, the main subject is “group,” which is singular, so the correct verb is “is.”

Why some people slip up—common reasons to watch for

• The subject comes after the verb. English can be deceptive. If you see “There are…” or “There is…,” don’t assume the verb automatically matches a word you spot later. The real subject might be delayed.

• Collective nouns, as noted, can wobble between singular and plural depending on usage.

• Indefinite pronouns like everyone, each, anyone, nobody are typically singular: Everyone brings their bag? Most style guides prefer singular agreement here: Everyone brings his or her bag.

• In questions, the order can disguise the subject. For instance: How many books is there on the shelf? Here the typical correct form is “are there” when the subject is plural, but if the subject is singular, you’d flip differently.

Bringing nuance into your sentences

Subject-verb agreement is not a cold rule book. It’s a living tool that helps you shape tone and clarity. Short, punchy sentences feel brisk and confident; longer sentences can carry nuance or describe situations. The trick is to let the subject guide the verb, then let the rhythm follow suit.

If you’re working with more complex ideas, you’ll encounter things like inverted word order or sentences with “neither… nor” or “either… or.” Here’s the quick compass:

• With “neither… nor,” the verb should agree with the part of the subject closest to the verb. If the closest noun is singular, the verb stays singular.

• With “either… or,” the verb agrees with the closer subject to the verb.

These are small rules, but they help a lot when you’re writing about multiple ideas at once.

Why you might enjoy noticing this in real life

Take a stroll through any well-edited article, novel, or report, and you’ll spot good subject-verb agreement behaving like a quiet backbone. It’s not flashy, but it’s dependable. You’ll notice how sentences carry their information with ease, how ideas connect without tugging at the reader’s attention. That’s the effect you’re aiming for: clarity that doesn’t shout, confidence that doesn’t pretend to be louder than it is.

A few tips to sharpen your ear over time

• Read sentences aloud. If the sentence sounds a little off when spoken, the verb might be mismatched.

• Practice with quick edits. Take a paragraph you’ve written and check the verbs against their subjects. If you notice a mismatch, adjust.

• Use reliable reference guides as a bazaar of sanity checks. A quick look at a reputable grammar source can clear up most ambiguities about singular and plural forms.

A little journey beyond the rule

You might enjoy thinking about how different writers handle the same idea. A technical report tends to favor tight, precise agreement to avoid any doubt. A narrative piece might bend a rule a touch for rhythm or voice. Even within a single sentence, you can shift from formal to informal by choosing how you pair the subject with the verb. The same idea can feel more or less formal depending on this tiny choice.

Bringing it back to the heart of clear writing

The example we started with is more than a multiple-choice item. It’s a compact reminder: in English, the subject’s number is the anchor, and the verb’s form must mirror it. When you get this right, your sentences glide. When you stumble, the reader’s ear stumbles with you.

If you want a quick checklist for your writing:

• Identify the subject. What is it? Singular or plural?

• Ignore any interposing words that don’t change the subject’s identity.

• Choose the verb that matches the subject’s number.

• Re-read aloud to test the flow and rhythm.

A parting thought

Grammar can feel a bit dry, but it’s really about making your ideas sing clearly. The park, the trees, the dogs, the children—each subject has its moment to stand tall in the sentence, and the verb is the note that makes it ring true. When you tune sentences with good subject-verb agreement, your writing becomes more persuasive, more readable, and a touch more human. And isn’t that what good communication is all about?