Subject-verb agreement is one of the fundamental rules of English grammar that every writer must know. It refers to the matching of the subject`s number and person with the verb`s number and person in a sentence. The general rule is that the singular subject takes a singular verb, and the plural subject takes a plural verb. However, things get a bit tricky when dealing with irregular plural forms. In this article, we will explore some of the common irregular plural forms and how to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.
Irregular plural forms are nouns that do not follow the typical pattern of adding -s or -es to form the plural. They often end in -en, -ren, -a, -i, -ves, or have other unique forms. For example, the plural of “child” is “children,” and the plural of “man” is “men.” These nouns can be particularly confusing because they do not follow the standard rules of forming plurals.
When it comes to subject-verb agreement, irregular plural forms require special attention. Here are some examples of how to handle these tricky nouns:
– Collective nouns: Collective nouns are singular when referring to the collection as a whole but plural when referring to the individual members. Examples include “team,” “family,” “committee,” and “class.” In such cases, the verb should agree with the sense of the noun. For example, “The team is preparing for the game” and “The team are arguing amongst themselves.”
– Indefinite pronouns: Indefinite pronouns are singular or plural depending on the context. Examples include “anyone,” “anything,” “nobody,” and “everyone.” When used as the subject of the sentence, they take a singular verb. For example, “Everyone is invited to the party.” However, when used as objects, they take plural verbs. For example, “The guests could not agree on anything.”
– Compound nouns: Compound nouns are two or more nouns joined together. They can be written as one word, hyphenated, or two separate words. When the compound noun is plural, the verb agrees with the last noun. For example, “Passers-by were watching the event,” not “Passer-byes were watching the event.”
– Foreign words: Some foreign words do not follow the typical English plural forms. For example, “octopus” becomes “octopuses” and not “octopi.” In such cases, the plural verb should agree with the English plural form. For example, “The octopuses were swimming in the tank.”
In conclusion, irregular plural forms can pose a challenge when it comes to subject-verb agreement. However, by paying attention to the specific rules for each type of noun, writers can ensure that their sentences are grammatically correct. Remember to check the sense of the noun, whether it is singular or plural, and which word is the head of the compound noun. With proper attention, you can master the art of subject-verb agreement, even with the most irregular plural forms.