Questions under Subject Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is an essential grammar rule that every writer should master to ensure effective communication. It refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action or state of being, while the verb is the action or state of being. When these two elements are not in agreement, the sentence becomes grammatically incorrect. This article will answer some frequently asked questions about subject-verb agreement.
1. What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical rule that states that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number. That is, a singular subject should have a singular verb, while a plural subject should have a plural verb. For example, “The cat chases the mouse” is correct, while “The cat chase the mouse” is incorrect because the subject “cat” is singular, and the verb “chase” is plural.
2. How do I know if a subject is singular or plural?
To determine if a subject is singular or plural, look at the noun or pronoun that performs the action or state of being. If the word is singular, then the subject is singular. For example, “The boy plays soccer,” the subject “boy” is singular. If the word is plural, then the subject is plural. For example, “The boys play soccer,” the subject “boys” is plural.
3. What happens when the subject and verb are separated by a long phrase?
Sometimes, a long phrase can separate the subject and verb in a sentence, which can cause confusion. In such cases, it is essential to identify the subject and the verb correctly. For example, “The book on the table, as well as the pens and pencils, were left by the students.” The subject in this sentence is “the book on the table,” which is singular, and the verb is “were left,” which is plural. Therefore, the sentence is incorrect. The correct sentence should be “The book on the table, as well as the pens and pencils, was left by the students.”
4. What happens when the subject is a collective noun?
A collective noun refers to a group of people, animals, or things. Examples of collective nouns are team, family, orchestra, and group. When the subject is a collective noun, it can be singular or plural depending on the context. For example, “The family is going on vacation” is correct because the family is considered a unit, while “The family are arguing among themselves” is correct because the family members are considered individuals.
5. How do I know if a verb is singular or plural?
To determine if a verb is singular or plural, add “s” to the verb if the subject is singular, and leave the verb as it is if the subject is plural. For example, “She runs” is correct because the subject “she” is singular, while “They run” is correct because the subject “they” is plural.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential grammar rule that every writer should master to ensure effective communication. By answering the frequently asked questions about subject-verb agreement, this article provides writers with a better understanding of this grammatical rule and how to apply it correctly.