Updates: Welcomes to Daud Consultancy (PVT) LTD... Read More
Updates: Welcomes to Daud Consultancy (PVT) LTD... Read More
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammar rule that writers and editors must follow to communicate effectively. In simple terms, this rule requires that the subject and verb in a sentence must match in number. Thus, a singular subject requires a singular verb form, and a plural subject requires a plural verb form.
YourDictionary, an online dictionary and thesaurus, provides writers and editors with a comprehensive guide on subject-verb agreement. This guide explains the principles of subject-verb agreement and offers several examples to illustrate the rule`s application.
One of the primary benefits of studying subject-verb agreement is that it helps writers avoid grammatical mistakes that can distract readers and undermine the credibility of the text. For instance, consider the following sentence:
“The team of experts were ready to tackle the problem.”
In this sentence, the subject is “team,” which is singular. However, the verb “were” is plural, which creates a disagreement between the subject and verb. Therefore, the correct sentence should be:
“The team of experts was ready to tackle the problem.”
As you can see, applying subject-verb agreement correctly is crucial for clear and effective communication.
Another aspect of subject-verb agreement that writers and editors must keep in mind is a prepositional phrase and intervening clauses. Prepositional phrases are groups of words that begin with a preposition and end with a noun, pronoun, or gerund. For example:
“In the summer of 2021, I visited Europe with my family.”
Here, the prepositional phrase is “in the summer of 2021.” The subject of the sentence is “I,” which is singular, and the verb “visited” agrees with the subject.
Now, consider this example:
“The cat, along with her kittens, were sleeping in the sunroom.”
In this sentence, the subject is “cat,” which is singular. However, the prepositional phrase “along with her kittens” appears in between the subject and verb. Therefore, the verb “were” is incorrect as it is plural, whereas the correct verb form should be singular:
“The cat, along with her kittens, was sleeping in the sunroom.”
YourDictionary`s guide on subject-verb agreement offers several other examples of how prepositional phrases and intervening clauses can affect the matching between the subject and verb.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial grammar rule that writers and editors must adhere to for effective communication. YourDictionary`s guide offers a convenient reference for understanding and applying the rule correctly, including its application with prepositional phrases and intervening clauses. By mastering subject-verb agreement, writers can avoid common grammatical mistakes and produce clear and professional writing.