Plural agreement

Definition

Plural agreement refers to the grammatical rule that requires verbs, pronouns, and modifiers to match in number with their subjects. This concept is essential for maintaining clarity and coherence in sentences, ensuring that multiple subjects are properly represented in the verb forms and related elements. The proper application of plural agreement helps avoid confusion, especially when dealing with complex subjects that may include collective nouns or compound subjects.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Plural agreement is crucial when using compound subjects; if both subjects are plural, the verb must also be plural.
2. Certain collective nouns may take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members.
3. When using indefinite pronouns such as 'many,' 'few,' 'several,' and 'both,' the corresponding verb should be plural.
4. In sentences with phrases such as 'as well as' or 'in addition to,' the verb should still agree with the main subject, not the additional phrase.
5. In contexts where a noun phrase includes an appositive that is plural, the verb must still agree with the main noun phrase.

Review Questions

• How does plural agreement apply to compound subjects in a sentence?
  • Plural agreement applies to compound subjects by requiring the verb to be in plural form if both subjects are plural. For example, in the sentence 'The cats and dogs play together,' both 'cats' and 'dogs' are plural, so the verb 'play' is also plural. Understanding this rule helps maintain clarity and correctness in writing when multiple subjects are involved.
• Discuss how collective nouns can complicate plural agreement and provide examples.
  • Collective nouns can complicate plural agreement because they can be treated as either singular or plural depending on context. For instance, 'The team wins' treats 'team' as a single unit (singular), while 'The team are arguing among themselves' treats it as individuals (plural). This flexibility requires careful attention to context to determine the appropriate verb form for correct agreement.
• Evaluate the significance of ensuring proper plural agreement in complex sentences with multiple subjects and modifiers.
  • Ensuring proper plural agreement in complex sentences is crucial for clarity and effective communication. In sentences that contain multiple subjects or modifiers, incorrect agreement can lead to confusion about who or what is being discussed. For instance, 'The teacher along with her students were excited' creates ambiguity due to incorrect verb usage. A correct structure would be 'The teacher along with her students was excited,' maintaining clarity about the subject. Proper plural agreement enhances understanding and coherence in writing.

Related terms

subject-verb agreement:

The grammatical rule that states the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number, meaning both must be singular or both must be plural.

collective nouns:

Nouns that refer to a group of individuals or things, which can be singular or plural depending on how they are used in a sentence.

compound subjects:

Subjects that consist of two or more simple subjects joined by a conjunction, which can affect the verb form based on whether the subjects are singular or plural.