Subject-verb agreement is one of the fundamental rules of the English language. This rule states that the verb in a sentence must agree with the subject in both number and person. In simpler terms, it means that a singular subject must be paired with a singular verb, and a plural subject must be paired with a plural verb. In this article, we will explore the basics of subject-verb agreement and provide examples to help you understand this rule better.
Let`s begin by defining the subject. The subject is the person, place, thing or idea that performs the action of the sentence. For example, in the sentence “The cat is sleeping,” the subject is “the cat,” and the verb is “is sleeping.” Here, the singular subject “the cat” is paired with the singular verb “is sleeping.”
Similarly, plural subjects should be paired with plural verbs. For example, in the sentence “The cats are sleeping,” the subject is “the cats,” and the verb is “are sleeping.” Here, the plural subject “the cats” is paired with the plural verb “are sleeping.”
However, subject-verb agreement can become tricky when dealing with compound subjects. A compound subject is when there are two or more subjects in a sentence joined by a conjunction such as “and” or “or.” In this case, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. For example, in the sentence “John, Sarah, and their dog are going for a walk,” the compound subject is “John, Sarah, and their dog,” and the verb is “are going.” Here, the plural subject “John, Sarah, and their dog” is paired with the plural verb “are going.”
Another situation where subject-verb agreement can be confusing is when the subject is separated from the verb by a phrase or clause. In this case, the writer must identify the subject correctly to match it with the correct verb. For example, in the sentence “The book on the shelf, along with the pens and pencils, is mine,” the subject is “the book,” and the verb is “is mine.” Here, even though there are other nouns in the sentence, the subject “the book” is singular and is correctly paired with the singular verb “is mine.”
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial rule of the English language. It ensures that the verb in a sentence agrees with the subject in both number and person. By following this rule, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. Remember to pay attention to compound subjects and subjects separated by phrases or clauses to avoid confusion. With practice, subject-verb agreement will become second nature, and your writing will be more polished and professional.