What Is the 20 Rules of Subject Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of grammar that governs proper sentence construction and communication. It is imperative to master the rules of subject-verb agreement to produce grammatically correct sentences that are clear and easy to understand. Here are the 20 rules of subject-verb agreement that every writer, editor, or proofreader should be familiar with.
1. The verb agrees with the subject in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural too.
2. The subject comes before the verb in a sentence. This rule helps to avoid errors caused by loose sentence construction or misplaced modifiers.
3. Compound subjects joined by “and” require a plural verb. For example, “The cat and the dog are sleeping.”
4. Singular subjects joined by “or,” “nor,” or “either/or” take a singular verb. For example, “Either the cat or the dog is eating.”
5. When the subject and verb are separated by a clause or a phrase, the verb still agrees with the subject, not the intervening words. For example, “My friend, who is an excellent writer, is teaching a writing workshop.”
6. Collective nouns can take either a singular or a plural verb, depending on context and meaning. For example, “The crew is working on the ship” or “The crew are arguing among themselves.”
7. Indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone,” “anyone,” “someone,” or “nobody,” always take singular verbs. For example, “Everyone is welcome to attend the party.”
8. When a subject includes both singular and plural nouns, the verb agrees with the noun closest to it. For example, “The apples and the oranges are ripe.”
9. Titles of books, movies, and other works take singular verbs, even though they may have plural meanings. For example, “The Lord of the Rings is a classic fantasy novel.”
10. “Each,” “every,” and “many a” take singular verbs, even though they refer to multiple people or things. For example, “Each student must submit their assignment on time.”
11. Subjects that express time, money, weight, or measurement take singular verbs. For example, “Two thousand dollars is a lot of money.”
12. Inverted (or fronted) sentences that begin with a prepositional phrase, such as “In the garden sat a cat,” require a singular verb that agrees with the subject following the verb.
13. When using “there” as a dummy subject, the verb agrees with the subject that follows it. For example, “There are many reasons why people enjoy hiking.”
14. Verbs that end in “-s,” “-z,” “-sh,” “-ch,” or “-x” take the “-es” suffix for the third person singular present tense. For example, “He washes his car every weekend.”
15. Verbs that end in a consonant followed by “y” change the “y” to “i” and add “-es” for the third person singular present tense. For example, “She tries her best in everything she does.”
16. Irregular verbs, such as “be,” “have,” “do,” and “go,” have unique forms for different tenses and persons. For example, “He has gone to the store.”
17. Reflexive pronouns, such as “myself” and “ourselves,” require the verb to match the subject in number and person. For example, “I am washing myself.”
18. Verbs in subjunctive mood, such as “if,” “wish,” and “were,” have different forms than the indicative mood and often require careful attention to subject-verb agreement. For example, “If I were you, I would study harder.”
19. Verbs that express a condition, such as “may,” “can,” “should,” or “will,” can also pose challenges to subject-verb agreement. For example, “If the weather is good, we can go for a walk.”
20. Finally, consistency and correctness are key in subject-verb agreement. Make sure to proofread your work carefully and have someone else check it to avoid errors and misunderstandings.
In conclusion, mastering the 20 rules of subject-verb agreement is essential for effective communication and clear writing. Whether you are a professional writer, an editor, or a student, understanding and applying these rules will enhance the clarity and impact of your writing.