Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar. It refers to the need for the subject and verb to agree in terms of number and person. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well. Having proper subject-verb agreement is crucial in ensuring clear and effective communication in any written or spoken context.

Why is Subject-Verb Agreement Important?

Subject-verb agreement is essential because it reduces ambiguity in language. If the subject and verb do not agree, the sentence can be confusing and difficult to understand. For example, consider the following sentence: “The dog barks loudly.” This sentence is clear and easy to understand because the singular subject “dog” matches the singular verb “barks.” However, if the sentence were written as “The dog bark loudly,” it would be incorrect and confusing.

Correcting Subject-Verb Disagreements

One common type of subject-verb disagreement occurs when the subject is a collective noun, such as “team” or “family.” Collective nouns are singular and require singular verbs. For example, “My family is going on vacation” is correct, while “My family are going on vacation” is incorrect.

Another common mistake occurs when the subject is separated from the verb by a phrase or clause, such as “along with” or “as well as.” In these cases, the subject is still singular or plural, and the verb must agree accordingly. For example, “The teacher, as well as her students, is excited for the field trip” is correct, while “The teacher, as well as her students, are excited for the field trip” is incorrect.

Subject-verb agreement can also be tricky when dealing with indefinite pronouns like “everyone” or “nobody.” These pronouns may seem plural, but they are singular and require singular verbs. For example, “Everyone wants to go to the party” is correct, while “Everyone want to go to the party” is incorrect.

Final Thoughts

Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of English grammar. It helps ensure clear and effective communication. As a professional, it`s important to pay close attention to these details when editing written content. Ensuring proper subject-verb agreement can make all the difference in the quality and effectiveness of a piece of content.