Subject-verb agreement is a crucial element of grammar that ensures the coherence and clarity of your writing. It is a rule that grammatical subjects should match their respective verbs in number and person. If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. Similarly, if the subject is plural, the verb must also be in the plural form. The subject-verb agreement has plural forms that are essential to understand and use correctly in writing.
Plural subject-verb agreement occurs when the subject of a sentence is more than one person, thing, or idea. In this case, the verb must also be in the plural form. For example, “The dogs bark loudly” is correct grammar, but “The dogs barks loudly” is incorrect because the subject “dogs” is plural, and the verb “barks” is singular.
One mistake commonly made by writers is using a singular verb after a plural subject. This mistake often arises when the writer is using a collective noun to refer to a group of people or things. Collective nouns such as team, herd, family, and committee refer to groups of people or things. However, they are singular nouns, and the verb used after them must also be singular. For instance, “The team was working on the project” is correct, but “The team were working on the project” is incorrect.
Plural subject-verb agreement also applies to compound subjects. When two or more subjects are joined by “and,” the accompanying verb must also be plural. For example, “Tom and Jerry are my favorite cartoon characters.”
Another common mistake that writers make is using improper subject-verb agreement in sentences that contain singular and plural subjects. In these cases, the verb should agree with the subject closest to it. For instance, “The cats and the dog run in the park” is incorrect grammar because the verb “run” is plural, but the subject “dog” is singular. The correct sentence should be, “The cat and the dog run in the park.”
Subject-verb agreement has plural forms that should be taken into consideration when writing to ensure that your writing is clear, coherent, and grammatically sound. It plays an indispensable role in communicating your message effectively. Therefore, it is essential to have a solid grasp of this rule and apply it properly in your writing. Remember, when the subject is plural, the verb must also be in the plural form.