Subject-verb agreement is one of the fundamental rules of English grammar that ensures the clarity and coherence of a sentence. It is imperative to understand this rule to avoid grammatical errors in writing. In this article, we will discuss the subject agreement rules and how to apply them in your writing.
What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means that the subject of a sentence must agree with the verb in number and person. In simple terms, if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural. This agreement rule applies to all tenses and is essential in creating a grammatically correct and understandable sentence.
How to apply subject-verb agreement in writing?
1. Identify the subject
Before applying subject-verb agreement in your writing, you must identify the subject of your sentence. The subject is the person, place, or thing that performs the action or is being described in a sentence. Once you have identified the subject, you can determine its number, whether it is singular or plural.
2. Choose the correct verb form
Once you have identified the number of the subject, you can choose the appropriate verb form. For singular subjects, the verb form should end with ‘s’ or ‘es’ in the present tense. However, for plural subjects, the verb form should not have any ‘s’ or ‘es’ at the end.
For example:
– The girl walks to school. (singular subject, verb form is present tense walks)
– The girls walk to school. (plural subject, verb form is present tense walk)
3. Watch out for tricky subjects
Some subjects can be tricky and may not follow the general rule of subject-verb agreement. For example, when dealing with collective nouns, such as team, family, committee, or group, the verb form can be singular or plural depending on the context.
For example:
– The team is playing tonight. (singular verb form is used because the team is acting as one unit)
– The team are all wearing different jerseys. (plural verb form is used because the team members are acting as individuals)
4. Be mindful of compound subjects
Compound subjects are formed by two or more nouns or pronouns and are joined by a conjunction such as ‘and’ or ‘or.’ In this case, the verb should agree with the number of the closest subject to it.
For example:
– The cat and the dog are playing together. (plural verb form is used because both cat and dog are plural)
– Either the cat or the dog is eating the food. (singular verb form is used because the closest subject ‘dog’ is singular)
Conclusion
Understanding subject-verb agreement rules is crucial in creating grammatically correct and comprehensible sentences in writing. Remember to identify the subject, select the appropriate verb form, and be aware of tricky and compound subjects. By following these rules, you can produce clear and effective writing.