Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of writing that is often ignored. The subject of a sentence refers to the person, place, or thing, while the verb is the action or occurrence of the subject. The two must agree in order to form a grammatically correct sentence. If they do not, it can lead to confusion and weaken the message you are trying to convey.
Here are the key concepts of subject-verb agreement that you should keep in mind while editing your work:
1. Singular subjects require singular verbs: When the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb must also be singular. For example, “The student studies hard.” Here, “student” is singular and “studies” is a singular verb.
2. Plural subjects require plural verbs: Likewise, when the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb must also be plural. For example, “The students study hard.” Here, “students” is plural and “study” is a plural verb.
3. Compound subjects require plural verbs: When two or more subjects are joined by “and,” they form a compound subject and require a plural verb. For example, “Tom and Jerry are playing chess.” Here, “Tom and Jerry” are the compound subject and “are” is the plural verb.
4. Collective nouns may require singular or plural verbs: Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things and may be treated as either singular or plural. For example, “The team is playing well.” Here, “team” is a collective noun and treated as a singular subject. On the other hand, “The staff are all busy.” Here, “staff” is a collective noun and treated as a plural subject.
5. Indefinite pronouns may require singular or plural verbs: Indefinite pronouns like “everyone,” “somebody,” and “nobody” require singular verbs. For example, “Everybody is welcome to the party.” Here, “everybody” is an indefinite pronoun and treated as a singular subject. However, indefinite pronouns like “both,” “few,” and “many” require plural verbs. For example, “Both of my friends are coming to the party.” Here, “both” is an indefinite pronoun and treated as a plural subject.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential component of clear and effective writing. It ensures that your sentences are grammatically correct and easy to understand. Remembering these key concepts will help you avoid common errors and improve the quality of your writing.