Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical rule that dictates that the subject and verb of a sentence must agree in number. Simply put, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. Subject-verb agreement is important in effective communication and can impact the clarity and credibility of your writing. Here are some examples of subject-verb agreement rules to help you improve your writing:
1. Singular subject and singular verb
Example: The dog barks at the mailman.
In this sentence, “dog” is a singular subject, and “barks” is a singular verb. Both the subject and verb are in singular form, making the sentence grammatically correct.
2. Plural subject and plural verb
Example: The cats meow at night.
In this sentence, “cats” is a plural subject, and “meow” is a plural verb. Both the subject and verb are in plural form, making the sentence grammatically correct.
3. Singular subject and plural verb
Example: The teacher and the students study hard.
In this sentence, “teacher” is a singular subject, and “students” is a plural subject. The verb “study” is a plural verb to agree with the plural subject “students.” However, the singular subject “teacher” does not affect the verb form.
4. Plural subject and singular verb
Example: The news is always depressing.
In this sentence, “news” is a plural subject, but the verb “is” is singular. This is because “news” functions as a collective noun that represents a singular idea or concept.
5. Compound subjects with “and”
Example: The book and the pen are on the table.
In this sentence, “book” and “pen” are both subject nouns connected by the conjunction “and.” The verb “are” is plural to agree with the compound subject.
6. Compound subjects with “or” or “nor”
Example: Neither the cat nor the dog likes water.
In this sentence, “cat” and “dog” are both subject nouns connected by the conjunction “nor.” Since both subjects are singular, the verb “likes” is also singular.
7. Collective nouns
Example: The team is playing well this season.
In this sentence, “team” is a collective noun that refers to a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. Even though the group is made up of multiple individuals, the noun is singular, so the verb “is” is singular as well.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule of grammar that every writer should master. By following these examples, you can ensure your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. Remember, a small mistake in subject-verb agreement can greatly affect the meaning of your writing, so always double-check your work!