Subject- Explanation of Subject-Verb Agreement
As a copy editor focusing on SEO, one of the essential language components to ensure high traffic and readability is correct subject-verb agreement. A sentence that shows proper agreement between the subject and verb helps in maintaining the clarity of the message you intend to convey.
In simple terms, subject-verb agreement means that the verb agrees with the subject in number. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural too. The agreement between the subject and the verb ensures that there is no confusion or ambiguity in the meaning of the sentence.
For example, a sentence like “He walk to work every day” has improper subject-verb agreement, as the subject “he” is singular, but the verb “walk” is plural. The correct sentence would be “He walks to work every day.” This correction shows proper agreement between the subject and the verb.
In the case of collective nouns, such as team, family, or group, the verb can be singular or plural, depending on the context and the meaning of the sentence. If the collective noun is viewed as a single entity, the verb should be in the singular form. Otherwise, if the collective noun refers to the individuals within the group, the verb should be in the plural form.
For example, “The team is playing well” is correct because the team is viewed as a single entity. Conversely, “The team are wearing their new jerseys” is correct as the sentence refers to the individuals within the team. The verb “are” agrees with the plural noun “individuals.”
Additionally, the form of the verb must also agree with the tense of the sentence. For example, if the sentence is in the present tense, the verb should be present tense, and if the sentence is in the past tense, the verb should be in the past tense.
For instance, “She study for her test every night” has incorrect subject-verb agreement as it uses present tense with a singular subject. This sentence should be “She studies for her test with a singular subject”.
In conclusion, proper subject-verb agreement is crucial in maintaining the clarity and precision of your message. It ensures that the thoughts and ideas you want to communicate are clear and easily understandable. By following the correct rules for subject-verb agreement, your writing will become more professional, credible, and readable.