Subject-verb agreement

Definition

Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that requires the subject of a sentence to match its verb in number and person. This means that singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs, ensuring clarity and coherence in writing. Mastering this rule is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences and improving overall writing skills.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Subject-verb agreement can be affected by phrases that intervene between the subject and the verb, such as 'as well as' or 'along with', which do not change the number of the subject.
2. Collective nouns, like 'team' or 'group', may take either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group acts as a single unit or as individuals.
3. Indefinite pronouns like 'everyone' and 'someone' are always treated as singular, requiring singular verbs.
4. In sentences with compound subjects connected by 'and', the verb typically takes a plural form, unless the subjects are considered a single entity.
5. When using titles of books, movies, or other works, the title is treated as a singular subject, regardless of the number of words it contains.

Review Questions

• How does intervening phrases impact subject-verb agreement in sentences?
  • Intervening phrases can create confusion in identifying the correct form of the verb to match the subject. For example, in the sentence 'The teacher, along with her students, is excited about the trip,' the phrase 'along with her students' does not affect the singular subject 'teacher'. Therefore, the verb 'is' remains singular. It's essential to recognize these phrases to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.
• Discuss how collective nouns can influence subject-verb agreement and provide examples.
  • Collective nouns can influence subject-verb agreement by being treated as either singular or plural based on context. For instance, in 'The team wins its game,' the collective noun 'team' acts as a single unit, so a singular verb is used. Conversely, in 'The team are celebrating their victory,' it emphasizes individual members acting separately, thus requiring a plural verb. Understanding this flexibility helps clarify meaning in writing.
• Evaluate the importance of mastering subject-verb agreement for effective communication in writing.
  • Mastering subject-verb agreement is crucial for effective communication because it directly affects clarity and credibility in writing. Incorrect subject-verb agreement can lead to misunderstandings and distract readers from the intended message. For example, confusing singular and plural forms might create ambiguity about who is performing an action. Therefore, writers must ensure their subjects and verbs agree to convey their ideas clearly and professionally.

Related terms

Subject: The part of a sentence that indicates who or what the sentence is about, typically a noun or pronoun.

Verb: A word that describes an action, occurrence, or state of being, functioning as the predicate of a sentence.

Number: A grammatical category that reflects whether a noun or verb is singular or plural, affecting subject-verb agreement.