Subject-verb agreement is an essential grammatical rule that writers must follow to ensure clear and effective communication. This rule states that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number, meaning that they must both be singular or both be plural. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
Correct subject-verb agreement is crucial in all forms of writing, including academic essays, business reports, and online content. Not following this rule can result in confusion and misunderstanding for the reader, and it can also affect the credibility and professionalism of the writer.
Let`s take a look at some examples of subject-verb agreement:
Example 1: The dog barks at the mailman.
In this sentence, the subject (dog) is singular, and the verb (barks) is also singular. This follows the rule of subject-verb agreement.
Example 2: The dogs bark at the mailman.
In this sentence, the subject (dogs) is plural, and the verb (bark) is also plural. Again, this follows the subject-verb agreement rule.
Example 3: Sarah and Jack is going to the party.
In this sentence, there is a subject-verb disagreement. The subject (Sarah and Jack) is plural, but the verb (is going) is singular. To correct this sentence, we would need to change the verb to the plural form: Sarah and Jack are going to the party.
Example 4: The company, along with its employees, work hard to achieve its goals.
In this sentence, there is a subject-verb disagreement. The subject (company) is singular, but the verb (work) is plural. This is because the writer has mistakenly included the phrase “along with its employees” as part of the subject. To correct this sentence, we would need to restructure it: The company and its employees work hard to achieve their goals.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an important grammatical rule that writers must follow to ensure clear and effective communication. By understanding this rule and applying it correctly, writers can improve the clarity and professionalism of their writing. Remember to always check your subject-verb agreement when proofreading your work, and make any necessary corrections to ensure that your writing is clear and correct.