Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of good grammar in English language. It is critical in conveying your ideas effectively and making your writing easy to read and understand. In this article, we will provide an explanation on subject-verb agreement, what it means, and how you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct.
What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that governs the relationship between a subject and its corresponding verb. Simply put, it refers to the fact that the subject and verb in a sentence must match each other in terms of number and person. When the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb must also be singular. Similarly, when the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
Examples:
– The cat meows. (singular subject, singular verb)
– The cats meow. (plural subject, plural verb)
Why is subject-verb agreement important?
Subject-verb agreement is important because it ensures that a sentence is grammatically correct. By matching the subject and verb in terms of number and person, you avoid confusion and ambiguity in your writing. In addition, it helps to create clarity and precision in your writing, which makes it easier for your readers to understand and follow your ideas.
Tips for achieving subject-verb agreement:
1. Identify the subject
The first step in achieving subject-verb agreement is to identify the subject of the sentence. The subject is the person or thing that the sentence is about. Once you have identified the subject, ensure that the verb agrees with it in terms of number and person.
2. Know the rules
As mentioned earlier, subject-verb agreement follows a set of rules. To ensure that your writing is grammatically correct, you need to understand these rules. For instance, singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs.
3. Watch out for tricky subjects
Some subjects can be tricky, and it can be challenging to determine whether they are singular or plural. For example, collective nouns such as team, committee, and family can be singular or plural, depending on how they are used in a sentence. In such cases, you need to pay close attention to the verb and ensure that it agrees with the subject in terms of number and person.
4. Don`t be misled by prepositional phrases
Prepositional phrases can sometimes make it challenging to determine the subject of a sentence. For instance, in the sentence “The book on the table is mine,” the subject is book, not table. Therefore, the verb should agree with the subject, which is singular.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is essential in ensuring that your writing is grammatically correct and easy to read. By identifying the subject and ensuring that the verb agrees with it in terms of number and person, you can create clear, precise sentences that effectively convey your ideas.