Subject/verb agreement is an essential aspect of English grammar that every writer and editor should know. It is a rule that helps maintain clarity and coherence in a sentence by ensuring that the verb agrees with its subject in both number and tense.
Here are some basic rules to follow when it comes to subject/verb agreement:
1. Number agreement: The number of the verb should match the number of the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. For example, “The book is on the table” (singular subject and verb) and “The books are on the table” (plural subject and verb).
2. Tense agreement: The tense of the verb should match the tense of the subject. If the subject is in present tense, the verb should be in present tense, and if the subject is in past tense, the verb should be in past tense. For example, “She walks to the store” (present tense) and “She walked to the store” (past tense).
3. Collective nouns: Collective nouns, such as “team” or “family,” refer to a group of people or things as a single entity. When using collective nouns as subjects, the verb should be singular if the group acts as a unit and plural if the individuals within the group act independently. For example, “The team is playing well” (acting as a unit) and “The team are arguing among themselves” (acting independently).
4. Indefinite pronouns: Indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone” or “no one,” are singular and should take singular verbs. For example, “Everyone is welcome to attend” and “No one wants to be left behind.”
5. Compound subjects: Compound subjects are two or more subjects joined by “and.” When using a compound subject, the verb should be plural. For example, “John and Mary are coming to the party.”
6. Subject-verb separation: Sometimes the subject and verb can be separated by words or phrases. In these cases, it`s important to ensure that the verb still agrees with the subject. For example, “The book, along with the pen, is on the table” (singular subject and verb) and “The books, along with the pens, are on the table” (plural subject and verb).
In conclusion, subject/verb agreement is necessary to ensure that your writing is grammatically correct, clear, and easy to read. Be sure to pay attention to the number and tense of both the subject and verb and apply the rules outlined above to make your writing shine!