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[ASK! editor speaks: My colleague, Lynn, receives this question: ‘What grammar rules do I apply to determine the form (singular/plural) of the verb in a noun clause?’ I know, you must thinking what on earth are you talking about?? Below is an example to illustrate]

Example 1: They suggested Mother cook this weekend.

Example 2: They suggested Mother cooks this weekend.

So is example 1 or example 2 correct?

The basic grammar rule to apply in this case would be subject-verb agreement. This means that “the subject of a sentence agrees in number (singular or plural) with the verb which follows it”.

Source: Nelson, G. (2001). English: an essential grammar. London: Routledge

Hence, example 2 is correct. 

‘Mother’ is the singular subject, and thus the verb should be the singular ’cooks’.

To learn more about grammar, below are some book recommendations: 

The grouchy grammarian: a how-not-to guide to the 47 most common mistakes in English made by journalists, broadcasters, and others who should know better by Thomas Parrish

Call no.: 428.2 PAR

The only grammar book you’ll ever need: a one-stop source for every writing assignment by Susan Thurman, edited by Larry Shea

Call no.: 428.2 THU

English grammar for the utterly confused by Laurie Rozakis

Call no.: 428.2 ROZ

To check availability of titles, please use our online catalogue. 

 Orginally answered by Lynn Koh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

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