Subject and verb agreement is a fundamental element of proper grammar in the English language. The rule states that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number, meaning they must be singular or plural. If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. The same applies if the subject is plural.
Rule 1 of subject and verb agreement states that a singular subject must take a singular verb, while a plural subject must take a plural verb. This rule is straightforward and easy to follow once you understand the concepts behind it.
To illustrate this rule, consider the following examples:
Singular: The dog barks at the mailman.
In this sentence, the subject is “dog,” which is singular, and the verb is “barks,” which is also singular. Because the subject and verb agree in number, this sentence is grammatically correct.
Plural: The dogs bark at the mailman.
In this sentence, the subject is “dogs,” which is plural, and the verb is “bark,” which is also plural. Again, the subject and verb agree in number, making this sentence grammatically correct.
It`s important to note that subject and verb agreement can become tricky when dealing with collective nouns, such as “team” or “family.” These nouns can be singular or plural, depending on the context. For example:
Singular: The team is playing well this season.
In this sentence, “team” is the collective noun, and it is treated as singular. Therefore, the verb “is” is also singular.
Plural: The family are all going on vacation together.
In this sentence, “family” is the collective noun, but it is treated as plural because it refers to multiple individuals. Therefore, the verb “are” is also plural.
In summary, rule 1 of subject and verb agreement requires that the subject and verb agree in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs. It`s important to pay attention to collective nouns and their context to determine whether they should be treated as singular or plural. By following this rule, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and easy to understand.
