A subject-verb agreement happens when the subject and the verb are the same number. Number refers to the form of a word that indicates whether it is singular or plural. If a subject is singular, then the verb should also be singular. In the same sense, if a subject is plural, then the verb should also be plural.
The term subject refers to a person or a thing that a predicate says something about. So, you could say that subjects are nouns and pronouns. Predicates often contain verbs that must agree with the subject in number. A verb indicates the performance of an action, the occurrence of an event, or the presence of a condition.
Why Should Subject Verb Agreement Matter to You?
In a nutshell, subject-verb agreement speaks to the grammatical correctness of your writing. So, if your subject does not agree with your verb, then whatever information you are trying to disseminate is left open to misinterpretation by your reader.
How to Ensure that Your Subject and Verb Agree
Nouns and pronouns have one of two forms—singular and plural. Often, verbs also come in pairs that represent corresponding singular and plural forms. Therefore, to achieve subject-verb agreement, you need to ensure that you use the correct matching pair.
Singular example: My parent is upset about my grades.
Plural example: My parents are upset about my grades.
In the singular example above the singular subject “parent” pairs with the singular verb “is”, and in the plural example the plural subject “parents” pairs with the plural verb “are”.
Singular example: The kid goes to sleep at 8 pm.
Plural example: The kids go to sleep at 8 pm.
The example above displays a key point, and that is: though a noun that ends with “s” is often in plural form, a verb that ends with “s” is usually singular.
Study Irregular Subjects
The English language has a history of borrowing from other languages such as Latin and Greek. Therefore, some plural forms may not live up to expectations, and the best way to know them is to study them.
Examples:
Singular: Thesis Plural: Theses
Singular: Stimulus Plural: Stimuli
Singular: Phenomenon Plural: Phenomena
Recognizing Confusing Subjects
You will come across expressions that are not plural but give a false sense of plurality. This is because some subjects tend to point in one direction but, they represent something else.
For illustrative purposes, everybody, everyone, each, neither, and either are all singular subjects. This might seem confusing, but what you need to understand is that although they mean more than one, you should approach them as if you are dealing with them one at a time.
Singular Example: Everybody agrees with your findings.
Singular Example: Each of the dogs is going to get a treat.
Singular Example: Either of the agendas sounds like a good topic.
Using Subjects with the Same Singular and Plural Form
There are a few words in the English language that have the same singular and plural form. In these instances, the only way a reader can know what form the subject takes is by looking at the verb in the expression. Some of these words include audience, police, committee, team, family, group, and jury. They are seen as collective nouns and are used as singular when the group that they are referring to is seen as a whole.
Singular example: The audience is the best part of the show.
Plural example: The audience members are a little restless during intermission.
Beware of Subject Look Alike
Avoid pairing a verb with the incorrect subject (noun or pronoun) in the sentence.
Example one: An advertisement on all the local television stations produces results.
In the example above the subject “advertisement” is paired with the verb “produces”, which makes the verb singular. The common mistake that some people make is to look at the noun just before the verb, which in this case is “television stations”. Because “television stations” is in its plural form you might erroneously pluralize the verb as well.
Example two: The credibility of the witnesses is questionable.
Example three: Identifying the client’s assets is especially important.
The two examples above are important because they demonstrate how to approach subject-verb agreement when dealing with a single quality, person, or thing that is relevant to a group.
Agreement in Inverted Sentences
In every example so far, the verb has followed the subject in the sentence, which is the general practice. However, the subject can follow the verb in inverted sentences.
Singular Example: Inside the house was an expensive stove that did not belong there.
Plural Example: Inside the house were several expensive stoves that did not belong there.
In instances such as this, it is easy for you to erroneously pair the verb with the noun that comes before it, which is not the true subject of the sentence.
Using Compound Subjects
Compound subjects contain two or more nouns joined by the conjunctions and, or, and nor. A compound subject that is joined by “and” is plural, unless they both refer to the same noun or pronoun.
Singular Example: Rice and peas is my favorite food.
Plural Example: The lightning and thunder create a terrifying atmosphere.
In the first example, “rice and peas” is seen as one unit, so the verb is singular. In the second example, “lightning and thunder” are two separate entities, so the verb is plural.
When a compound subject is joined by “or” or “nor”, the verb should agree with the subject that is closer to it.
Singular Example: Either prunes or an apple is a healthy option for a snack.
Plural Example: Either an apple or prunes are healthy options for a snack.
Continuing Your Subject Verb Agreement
You must continue with your subject-verb agreement throughout the sentence with words that are neither subjects nor verbs.
Incorrect example: Some football fans go through their entire life having extensive football knowledge, but only knowing a little when it comes to other sports.
Correct example: Some football fans go through their entire lives having extensive football knowledge, but only knowing a little when it comes to other sports.
In the example above the subject “football fans” agrees with the verb “go”, however, a noun in the predicate of the first example “life” does not agree with the subject.
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