When people speak or write, they aim to communicate their ideas or feeling effectively. If you find you are often forced to repeat yourself when you say something because people do not get what you say the first time, then you need check if you are using English correctly.
Subject-verb agreement is an English rule of grammar that states that singular subjects must agree with singular verbs and plural or compound subjects must agree with plural verbs. In simpler terms, the rule requires that the subject in a sentence must agree with the verb subjects in the sentence and not with any other word that is placed between them.
Correct use of English demands that all the rules of grammar are observed for meaningful communication to be achieved. As a start, using sentences that have subject-verb (S-V) agreement is a way you can use language well to achieve meaningful and effective communication.
The General Rule of Subject-Verb Agreement
There is a general rule of Subject-Verb agreement in English. Accurate use of English requires that the general rule of subject-verb agreement be followed at all times.The general rule states that if a verb in a sentence is singular, its subject must also be singular, and if a verb is plural its subject must also be plural.
Nouns in English can either be singular or plural. For instance, you can have one car or many cars. Pronouns on the other hand can be in first person, second person or third person. Singular pronouns include “I,” “you” or “she” respectively, while "we" and "they" are plural pronouns. In all these instances, the general rule says that if the verb in a sentence is singular, its subject must also be singular, and if a verb is plural its subject must also be plural.
Exception to the Rule of Subject-Verb Agreement
Like in all other rules, there are exceptions to the general rule of subject-verb agreement in English. Notable exceptions to the rule are those that apply to indefinite pronoun subjects. Indefinite pronoun subjects like “somebody,” “someone,” or “everyone” which often express plural meanings, are paired with singular verbs. The sentence “Everyone has a pen” is correct. Nonetheless, indefinite pronouns like “both,” “few” or “several” are paired with plural verbs. For instance, “Both boys have the opportunity to audition” is correct.
Considerations in Subject-Verb Agreement
The actor or actors in a sentence and what the action is in a sentence mush be considered when proofreading for subject-verb agreement. The actor or actors are the nouns or pronouns used in a sentence and they are usually found before the action in a sentence. On the other hand, the action in a sentence is the verb in the sentence. Always remember that the verbs must be consistent with the main actors in a sentence.
Effects of Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement leads to noun-pronoun agreement. The University of Richmond Writing Center records that a pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun, with some pronouns having nouns or pronouns to which they refer. This means that when a pronoun agrees with the noun (subject) it is assigned, in person, gender and number; then noun-pronoun agreement is achieved. For example, when "he” or “she” pronouns are used to refer to the correct gender, there is clear and meaningful communication. This makes communication in English more rewarding and fulfilling.
Reference
- Butte College: Subject-Verb Agreement
- Case Western Reserve University: Rule of Subject-Verb Agreement
- Mid State Mid-State Technical College: Agreement
- Writer's Web: University of Richmond Writing Center: Sentence Structure and Mechanics
Resource
David Kiarie - David Kiarie has been an independent writer and communications practitioner since 2007. He writes both for print and online ...
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