English Grammar Online: Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement
Effective communication is an essential aspect of effective writing. A polished, well-written piece can lose its impact if it`s riddled with grammatical errors. One common grammatical error that novice writers often make is the subject-verb agreement. The subject and verb agreement is a fundamental rule in the English language that can make or break the clarity of your writing. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about subject-verb agreement.
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is the rule in the English language that requires the subject and verb in a sentence to agree in number, that is, they must match in singular or plural form. The subject of the sentence is the person, place, or thing that the sentence is about, while the verb is the action or state of being of the subject.
For instance, in the sentence, « She is a doctor, » the subject « she » is singular, and the corresponding verb « is » is also singular, maintaining agreement. However, in the sentence, « They is going to the mall, » the subject « they » is plural, and the verb « is » is singular, hence, a disagreement.
Common Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
The most common errors in subject-verb agreement are:
1. Misidentifying the subject:
This happens when a writer mistakes the noun nearest to the verb for the subject. For example, in the sentence: « The offer of the scholarship are exciting, » the writer assumes the noun « offer » is the subject, hence the verb « are, » but the correct subject is « scholarship. » So, the correct sentence should read: « The scholarship offer is exciting. »
2. Two or more subjects connected by and
When two or more subjects are connected by « and, » the verb should be plural. For example, « Sandra and Joseph are studying medicine. »
3. Two or more singular subjects connected by « or » and « nor »
In situations where two singular subjects are connected by « or » or « nor, » the verb should be singular to agree with the nearest subject. For example, « Neither the supervisor nor the employee is responsible for the error. »
4. Collective nouns
A collective noun represents a group of people or things. Examples include « team, » « committee, » « family, » « jury, » and « class. » Collective nouns can be singular or plural, depending on the context. For instance, « The team is practicing their drills » should instead be « The team is practicing its drills » because « team » is a singular noun.
Tips for Improving Your Subject-Verb Agreement
To avoid subject-verb agreement errors, here are some tips to follow:
1. Identify the subject before determining the verb
2. Pay attention to collective nouns like « team, » and « family »
3. Be careful when using words like « or » and « nor »
4. Understand that a verb agrees with its subject, not its object or complement
5. Practice, practice, practice!
Conclusion
Subject-verb agreement is an essential rule to master if you want to communicate effectively in writing. Remember that errors in subject-verb agreement can make your work difficult to understand, and it can also impact how others perceive you as a writer. By following these tips and practicing regularly, you`ll be on your way to mastering English subject-verb agreement in no time.