Forming Subject Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is an important aspect of writing that often gets overlooked. It refers to the relationship between the subject and verb in a sentence. If the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural. In other words, the form of the verb must match the number of the subject.

For example, in the sentence “The cat chases the mouse,” the subject (“cat”) is singular, so the verb (“chases”) is also singular. In contrast, in the sentence “The cats chase the mice,” the subject (“cats”) is plural, so the verb (“chase”) is also plural.

Here are some tips for forming subject-verb agreement:

1. Identify the subject: Before you can form subject-verb agreement, you need to identify the subject of the sentence. The subject is typically the person, place, or thing that is performing the action in the sentence.

2. Check for plurality: Once you`ve identified the subject, determine if it is singular or plural. Singular subjects refer to one person, place, or thing, while plural subjects refer to more than one.

3. Match the verb: Once you know the number of the subject, choose the appropriate form of the verb. If the subject is singular, use a singular verb; if it is plural, use a plural verb.

4. Be mindful of tricky subjects: Some subjects can be tricky to identify, such as collective nouns, which refer to a group of people or things. Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on context. For example, “The team is playing well” uses a singular verb because “team” is being treated as a single entity. However, “The team are arguing about strategy” uses a plural verb because the team members are being treated as individuals.

5. Watch for compound subjects: When a sentence has more than one subject joined by “and,” the verb should also be plural. For example, “The cat and the dog are playing” uses a plural verb because there are two subjects.

6. Don`t be misled by intervening phrases: Sometimes, there may be phrases that come between the subject and verb that can be misleading. For example, “The group of students, including John, is going on a field trip” uses a singular verb because the subject is still “group,” even though “students” and “John” are also mentioned.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of writing that ensures proper grammar and comprehension. By following these tips, you can form subject-verb agreement correctly and effectively communicate your message to your audience.