Subject-verb agreement is an essential part of writing. It is the rule that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number, whether singular or plural. This is important because subject-verb agreement errors can make your writing look unprofessional and confusing. In this article, we’ll look at some examples of subject-verb agreement sentences and discuss how to avoid common mistakes.

Basic Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

The basic rule of subject-verb agreement is that a singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb. For example:

– The cat is sleeping. (singular subject and verb)

– The cats are sleeping. (plural subject and verb)

However, there are some exceptions to this rule that can be confusing, such as:

– Collective nouns: these refer to a group of people or things acting as a single unit. For example, the word “team” can be considered singular or plural depending on the context. If you’re talking about the team as a whole, use a singular verb. If you’re referring to the individual members of the team, use a plural verb. For example:

– The team is playing well. (singular subject and verb)

– The team are arguing among themselves. (plural subject and verb)

– Indefinite pronouns: these are pronouns that don’t refer to a specific person or thing. Some of these pronouns are always singular, such as “everyone”, “no one” and “someone”. Others can be singular or plural depending on the context, such as “none”, “some” and “all”. For example:

– Everyone is welcome to attend. (singular subject and verb)

– Some of the students are late. (plural subject and verb)

– Compound subjects: these are two or more subjects that are joined by “and”. If the subjects are plural, use a plural verb. If any of the subjects are singular, use a singular verb. For example:

– Tom and Mary are coming to the party. (plural subjects and verb)

– Tom, as well as Mary, is coming to the party. (singular subject and verb)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One of the most common mistakes in subject-verb agreement is when the subject is not clear. This can happen when using phrases such as “there is” or “there are”, or when the subject is separated from the verb by a phrase or clause. For example:

– There is a lot of people at the concert. (incorrect)

– There are a lot of people at the concert. (correct)

– Running and jumping up and down, the children were excited. (incorrect)

– The children were excited, running and jumping up and down. (correct)

Another common mistake is when the verb agrees with a noun that is closer to it but doesn’t match the subject. For example:

– The book on the table were interesting. (incorrect)

– The book on the table was interesting. (correct)

These mistakes are easy to make, but they can make your writing look messy and unprofessional. By following the basic rules of subject-verb agreement and being aware of common mistakes to avoid, you can make sure your writing is clear and easy to read.

Conclusion

Subject-verb agreement is an essential part of writing that can make or break the effectiveness of your message. Remember to use the basic rules: for singular subjects, use singular verbs, and for plural subjects, use plural verbs. Be aware of the exceptions, such as collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and compound subjects, and don’t forget to avoid common mistakes such as unclear subjects and verb-noun disagreements. With these tips in mind, you can improve your writing and make sure your message is clear and effective.