Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule of grammar that influences the clarity and correctness of your writing. It refers to the relationship between the subject and the verb in a sentence. A subject is the person, place, thing, or idea that performs the action of the sentence, while a verb is the action or state of being performed by the subject. In this article, we will discuss the rules to subject-verb agreement to help you improve your writing.
Rule 1: Agreement in Number
The first rule of subject-verb agreement is that the subject and the verb must agree in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. For example:
- The girl sings a song.
- The boys sing a song.
Rule 2: Agreement in Person
The second rule of subject-verb agreement is that the subject and the verb must agree in person. The person indicates whether the subject is the first, second, or third person. If the subject is in the first person, the verb must also be in the first person, and so on. For example:
- I am going to the store.
- She is going to the store.
Rule 3: Agreement in Tense
The third rule of subject-verb agreement is that the subject and the verb must agree in tense. Tense refers to the time when the action is taking place. If the subject is in the present tense, the verb must also be in the present tense. If the subject is in the past tense, the verb must also be in the past tense. For example:
- Mary walks to school every day.
- Jack walked to school yesterday.
Rule 4: Intervening Words
Sometimes, there are intervening words that separate the subject from the verb, such as prepositional phrases. In these cases, it`s important to identify the subject and make sure the verb agrees with it, not the words in between. For example:
- The cat under the table is sleeping.
- The cats under the table are sleeping.
Rule 5: Compound Subjects
When there is more than one subject in a sentence, it is called a compound subject. In these cases, the verb must be plural to agree with the plural subjects. For example:
- The dog and the cat are playing in the yard.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential rule in grammar that can significantly impact the effectiveness of your writing. By following the rules of agreement in number, person, tense, intervening words, and compound subjects, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. Remember that proper subject-verb agreement will help you connect with your audience and make your message clear and effective.