Subject Verb Agreement in English Language

Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of the English language. It refers to the agreement between the subject and verb in a sentence in terms of number, gender, and person. The subject and verb should always match in these aspects to ensure that the sentence is grammatically correct.

The basic rule of subject-verb agreement is that a singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb. For example, “The cat runs” is correct, while “The cat run” is incorrect. Similarly, “The cats run” is correct, while “The cats runs” is incorrect.

Another important factor in subject-verb agreement is gender. In sentences where the subject refers to a person, it is essential to use the appropriate form of the verb based on their gender. For example, “She sings” and “He sings” are both correct, while “She sing” and “He sing” are both incorrect.

Moreover, subject-verb agreement involves matching the subject and verb based on the person. The person refers to the relationship between the subject and the speaker. For example, “I run” is correct, while “I runs” is incorrect. Similarly, “They run” is correct, while “They runs” is incorrect.

It`s essential to note that subject-verb agreement can become more complicated when dealing with compound subjects, indefinite pronouns, and collective nouns. In the case of compound subjects, when the subjects are joined by “and,” the verb should be plural. For example, “John and Mary are running” is correct, while “John and Mary is running” is incorrect.

For indefinite pronouns such as “everyone,” “anything,” and “someone,” the verb should be singular. For example, “Everyone is here” is correct, while “Everyone are here” is incorrect.

When dealing with collective nouns such as “team,” “group,” and “family,” the verb can be both singular or plural, depending on the context of the sentence. For example, “The team is playing” and “The team are arguing” are both correct.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is critical in the English language. To ensure that your writing is grammatically correct, pay attention to the number, gender, and person of your subject and match it with the appropriate verb. Additionally, understanding the rules for compound subjects, indefinite pronouns, and collective nouns will enhance your writing skills.