Determine the correct verb form (is vs. are) in a question about multiple games when the subject pronoun is singular. | Step-by-Step Solution
Problem
Is the correct form 'What games is he playing?' or 'What games are he playing?' when asking about multiple games someone is engaged in?
šÆ What You'll Learn
- Identify correct verb forms in questions with singular pronouns
- Understand that subject-verb agreement depends on the pronoun, not the object of the preposition
Prerequisites: Understanding singular and plural nouns, Knowledge of pronoun types (he, she, they)
š” Quick Summary
Great question to think through ā this is all about subject-verb agreement, which can get tricky when sentences are phrased as questions! Here's something to consider: in a question like "What games ___ he playing?", do you think the verb should agree with "what games" or with "he"? It's worth asking yourself which of those words is actually *doing* the action in the sentence. Here's a helpful trick ā try flipping the question into a regular statement and see which version sounds natural to your ear. Think about what you already know about how "he," "she," and "it" behave differently from "they" or "we" when it comes to choosing a verb. Give it a try and trust your instincts ā you might surprise yourself with how much you already know about this!
Step-by-Step Explanation
š® Subject-Verb Agreement: Games Edition!
---
1. What We're Solving
We need to figure out whether to use "is" or "are" in the question: "What games ___ he playing?"---
2. The Approach
The golden rule of subject-verb agreement is simple: the verb must match the subject ā not the other object in the sentence. Questions can disguise which word is actually the subject!---
3. Step-by-Step Solution
Step 1: Find the TRUE subject Ask yourself ā who is doing the action? In this sentence, "he" is doing the playing. "What games" is actually the object (the thing being played).
Step 2: Identify whether the subject is singular or plural
- "He" = singular (refers to one person)
- "What games" = plural, but this is NOT the subject!
Since our subject is "he" (singular), we need "is"
Step 4: Test it by flipping to a statement > "He is playing games." ā > "He are playing games." ā
---
4. The Answer
ā "What games IS he playing?" is correct!"What games" might look like it should control the verb because it's plural, but "he" is the actual subject, and singular subjects take "is."
---
š” Memory Tip
"Flip the question!" Whenever you're unsure, convert the question into a statement and listen to what sounds natural: > "He is playing [some] games."The statement reveals the true subject immediately! šÆ
ā ļø Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Matching the verb to the noun in the prepositional phrase (games) instead of the actual subject (he)
- Confusing plural objects with plural subjects
- Overthinking agreement in interrogative sentence structure
This explanation was generated by AI. While we work hard to be accurate, mistakes can happen! Always double-check important answers with your teacher or textbook.
Meet TinyProf
Your child's personal AI tutor that explains why, not just what. Snap a photo of any homework problem and get clear, step-by-step explanations that build real understanding.
- āInstant explanations ā Just snap a photo of the problem
- āGuided learning ā Socratic method helps kids discover answers
- āAll subjects ā Math, Science, English, History and more
- āVoice chat ā Kids can talk through problems out loud
Trusted by parents who want their kids to actually learn, not just get answers.
TinyProf
š· Problem detected:
Solve: 2x + 5 = 13
Step 1:
Subtract 5 from both sides...
Join our homework help community
Join thousands of students and parents helping each other with homework. Ask questions, share tips, and celebrate wins together.
Need help with YOUR homework?
TinyProf explains problems step-by-step so you actually understand. Join our waitlist for early access!