Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of English grammar, and it is essential to ensure that the subject of a sentence agrees with its verb in number and tense. In this article, we will be exploring some interesting facts about subject-verb agreement and how it affects the clarity and coherence of a sentence.

1. The basic rule of subject-verb agreement

The basic rule of subject-verb agreement is that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. For example, “The dog barks” (singular subject, singular verb), and “The dogs bark” (plural subject, plural verb).

2. Collective nouns

Collective nouns are singular nouns that refer to a group of people or things. Examples include “team,” “family,” “staff,” “jury,” and “audience.” These nouns can be tricky in terms of subject-verb agreement because they can be both singular and plural. For example, “The team is practicing” (singular verb) and “The team are arguing” (plural verb).

3. Indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns such as “everyone,” “anyone,” and “someone” are always singular, and they take singular verbs. For example, “Everyone wants to be happy” (singular subject, singular verb).

4. Compound subjects

Compound subjects are two or more subjects joined by “and.” When the subjects are joined by “and,” the verb is plural. For example, “John and Sarah are going to the party” (plural subject, plural verb).

5. Singular verbs used with “either” and “neither.”

When “either” or “neither” is used as the subject of a sentence, the verb is always singular. For example, “Neither of the students is going to the party” (singular verb).

6. Verb agreement in questions

In questions, the verb should agree with the subject. For example, “Does the dog bark?” (singular subject, singular verb) and “Do the dogs bark?” (plural subject, plural verb).

7. Subject-verb agreement in complex sentences

In complex sentences with multiple clauses, it is essential to ensure that the agreement between the subject and verb is maintained throughout the sentence. For example, “The dog, which is my pet, barks every morning” (singular subject, singular verb).

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is vital in writing clear and coherent sentences. Understanding the basic rules of subject-verb agreement and the exceptions to the rules can help you improve your writing skills and make your sentences more effective. As a professional, it is essential to ensure that subject-verb agreement is maintained in all the content you edit to ensure that it is easy to understand and effective.