Subject-verb agreement can be a tricky concept to grasp, but it is crucial in ensuring clear and effective communication in writing. One of the common errors in subject-verb agreement is when the subject and verb do not agree in number.
When writing a sentence, the subject and verb must agree in number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural as well.
For example, consider the following sentence:
The dog chases the cat.
In this sentence, the subject (dog) is singular, and the verb (chases) agrees in number to reflect this.
On the other hand, if the subject were plural, the verb would also need to be plural. For example:
The dogs chase the cats.
In this sentence, both the subject (dogs) and the verb (chase) are plural.
One common mistake in subject-verb agreement is when the subject is a collective noun that can be either singular or plural, depending on the context. For example:
The team is playing well. (singular)
The team are wearing their new uniforms. (plural)
In the first sentence, the collective noun “team” is being used as a singular subject, and so the verb “is” is also singular. However, in the second sentence, the collective noun “team” is being used as a plural subject, and so the verb “are” is also plural.
Another common mistake is when the subject and verb are separated by a lengthy phrase, making it difficult to identify the correct verb form. For example:
The book, along with its companion CD, is/are available for purchase.
In this sentence, it might be tempting to use the plural form “are” since there are two items mentioned (the book and the CD). However, the subject is still singular (the book), so the correct verb form is “is.”
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a complex but necessary aspect of effective writing. Always be sure to check that your subject and verb agree in number to ensure clear and accurate communication. Remember that collective nouns can be either singular or plural depending on the context, and that lengthy phrases can sometimes make it difficult to identify the correct verb form. With practice, you can master subject-verb agreement and produce polished and professional writing.