Subject-verb agreement is an essential component of writing that ensures clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy. It`s vital to establish a logical connection between subjects and verbs to avoid confusion and ambiguity. In this article, we`ll delve deeper into the topic of subject-verb agreement and everything you need to know about it.
At its core, subject-verb agreement concerns the relationship between a subject and a verb in a sentence. The subject is the person, place, or thing that performs the action, while the verb is the action itself. In other words, the subject tells us who or what is doing something, while the verb tells us what they`re doing.
For example:
– Sarah runs every morning. (The subject is Sarah, and the verb is runs)
– The dogs bark loudly. (The subject is dogs, and the verb is bark)
In most cases, the verb must agree with the subject in terms of number and person. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. Similarly, if the subject is in the first person (I or we), the verb should be in the first person, and if the subject is in the third person (he, she, it, or they), the verb should be in the third person.
For example:
– She walks to work every day. (The subject, she, is singular, and the verb, walks, is also singular)
– They like to play tennis. (The subject, they, is plural, and the verb, like, is also plural)
However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. For instance, when using the word “none,” the verb can be either singular or plural, depending on the context and the intention of the writer. Similarly, when using collective nouns like “team” or “family,” the verb can be singular or plural depending on whether the writer is referring to the group as a single entity or as individuals.
For example:
– None of the students is interested in math. (The verb, is, agrees with the singular word none)
– The team is training hard for the upcoming game. (The verb, is, agrees with the singular collective noun team)
On the other hand:
– None of the students are interested in math. (The verb, are, agrees with the plural noun students)
– The family were arguing about where to go for dinner. (The verb, were, agrees with the plural collective noun family)
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of writing that requires careful attention and consideration. By ensuring that your verbs agree with your subjects in terms of number and person, you can convey your message clearly, effectively, and without confusion or ambiguity. As a professional, make sure to double-check your work`s subject-verb agreement to improve the overall quality and readability of your content.
