Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule of grammar that ensures the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. When writing, it is essential to make sure that the verb matches the subject in number (singular or plural).
Here are some tips to help you master subject-verb agreement:
1. Identify the subject of the sentence
The subject is the person, place, or thing that the sentence is about. It is essential to identify the subject and determine if it is singular or plural. For instance, in the sentence, “The bird sings beautifully,” the subject is “bird,” which is singular.
2. Determine the verb form
The verb form varies based on the number of the subject. For singular subjects, use a singular verb, and for plural subjects, use a plural verb. For instance, in the sentence, “The birds sing beautifully,” the verb “sing” is plural because the subject, “birds,” is plural.
3. Be aware of tricky subject-verb combinations
Some combinations can be tricky, such as collective nouns like “team,” which can be either singular or plural. For instance, in the sentence, “The team is playing well,” the word “team” is singular, and the verb “is” matches it. However, in the sentence, “The team are all wearing matching jerseys,” “team” is plural, and the verb “are” matches it.
4. Don`t be tricked by subjects separated from the verb
When the subject is separated from the verb by words or phrases, it can be easy to forget to match the verb to the subject. For example, in the sentence, “The smell of fresh bread baking in the oven can be calming,” the subject is “smell,” which is singular. The verb “can be” is also singular, even though it is separated from the subject.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is crucial to sound writing and effective communication. By following these tips, you can improve your writing and ensure that your sentences always match in number.