Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of grammar that every writer and editor must master. It refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence, ensuring that they match in number and tense. When there is a disagreement between the subject and the verb, it can confuse the reader and weaken the overall quality of the writing. Therefore, to ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and effective, it`s essential to test for subject-verb agreement.
The following are some effective subject agreement tests that you can use:
1. Count the subjects and the verbs in a sentence.
To ensure that the subject and the verb are in agreement, count the number of subjects in a sentence and compare them with the number of verbs. If there is only one subject, then there should be only one verb, and if there are multiple subjects, then there should be multiple verbs that agree with them.
Example:
Incorrect: The book on the desk, as well as the pen, was missing.
Correct: The book on the desk, as well as the pen, were missing.
Explanation: The original sentence has a singular verb “was” that does not agree with the plural subject “book” and “pen.” Therefore, to make it correct, we should replace “was” with the plural verb “were.”
2. Determine the subject-verb agreement in a compound subject.
A compound subject is made up of two or more subjects that share the same verb. To ensure that there is agreement between the subject and the verb, identify the plural and singular subjects in the sentence and ensure that the verb matches the number of the subject.
Example:
Incorrect: The dog and the cat loves to play together.
Correct: The dog and the cat love to play together.
Explanation: The original sentence has a singular verb “loves” that does not agree with the plural subject “dog” and “cat.” Therefore, to make it correct, we should replace “loves” with the plural verb “love.”
3. Check the subject and verb agreement in questions.
When forming questions, ensure that the subject-verb agreement is established by reversing the order of the subject and the verb. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the subject is plural, then the verb should be plural.
Example:
Incorrect: Does the group of teachers meets regularly?
Correct: Does the group of teachers meet regularly?
Explanation: The original sentence has a plural subject “group of teachers” with a singular verb “meets.” Therefore, to make it correct, we should replace “meets” with the plural verb “meet.”
In conclusion, mastering subject-verb agreement is essential to ensure effective communication in writing. By using the subject agreement tests mentioned above, you can identify and correct any issues with agreement between the subject and the verb in your writing. Remember that the key to effective writing is clear communication, and subject-verb agreement is an important aspect of this communication.