Plural subjects

Definition

Plural subjects are grammatical elements in a sentence that indicate more than one person, place, thing, or idea. They are essential for ensuring subject-verb agreement, as verbs must align with the number of the subject to maintain clarity and accuracy in communication. Understanding plural subjects helps in identifying common errors related to nouns and pronouns and reinforces proper article usage.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Plural subjects can be formed by adding an 's' or 'es' to singular nouns, but some nouns have irregular plural forms, like 'child' becoming 'children'.
2. In sentences with compound subjects joined by 'and', the subject is always plural, meaning it requires a plural verb.
3. When using collective nouns like 'team' or 'group', it's important to decide if the group is acting as a single unit (singular) or as individuals (plural) for subject-verb agreement.
4. Certain expressions, such as 'a number of' and 'the majority of', often indicate a plural subject even if they may seem singular at first glance.
5. Common errors involving plural subjects often stem from misidentifying the subject of the sentence or failing to recognize irregular plural forms.

Review Questions

• How does understanding plural subjects contribute to proper subject-verb agreement in sentences?
  • Understanding plural subjects is crucial for maintaining proper subject-verb agreement because it ensures that verbs correspond correctly to their subjects. When a sentence contains a plural subject, the verb must also be plural to accurately reflect the number of the subject. This awareness prevents common errors that arise from mismatched subjects and verbs, leading to clearer communication.
• What are some common mistakes people make when using collective nouns in relation to plural subjects?
  • Common mistakes with collective nouns arise from confusion about whether to treat them as singular or plural based on context. For example, a sentence like 'The team wins' treats 'team' as a single entity (singular), while 'The team are arguing among themselves' treats it as individuals (plural). This inconsistency can lead to incorrect verb forms and disrupt clarity in writing.
• Evaluate the significance of pronoun-antecedent agreement in the context of plural subjects and how it affects overall sentence clarity.
  • Pronoun-antecedent agreement is significant when discussing plural subjects because it ensures that pronouns correctly reflect the number of their antecedents. If a sentence refers to multiple entities but uses singular pronouns, it can confuse readers and obscure meaning. For instance, using 'they' for a group of students enhances clarity, whereas using 'he or she' could mislead about the number of individuals being referenced. Proper agreement thus promotes clearer communication and prevents misunderstanding.

Related terms

Subject-Verb Agreement: The grammatical rule that states the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number; singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs.

Collective Nouns: Nouns that refer to a group of individuals or things treated as a single unit, which can sometimes create confusion about whether to use singular or plural verbs.

Pronoun Antecedents: Words or phrases that a pronoun refers back to; understanding plural subjects helps ensure that pronouns agree in number with their antecedents.