Forms of Agreement in Grammar

Forms of Agreement in Grammar: Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement

As a copy editor, ensuring the correct forms of agreement in grammar is crucial in producing high-quality content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. In particular, subject-verb agreement is one of the most important aspects of English grammar that requires close attention to ensure accurate and effective communication.

Subject-verb agreement refers to the matching of the subject with the verb in a sentence. This means that the verb must agree with the number and person of the subject. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. Similarly, if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. Let`s take a closer look at the different forms of agreement in grammar.

Singular Subjects and Verbs

When using a singular subject in a sentence, the verb should also be in the singular form. For example:

– The dog barks at night.

In this sentence, “dog” is the subject and “barks” is the verb. Notice how “barks” matches with the singular subject “dog.”

Plural Subjects and Verbs

When using a plural subject in a sentence, the verb should be in the plural form. For example:

– The dogs bark at night.

In this sentence, “dogs” is the subject and “bark” is the verb. Notice how “bark” matches with the plural subject “dogs.”

Compound Subjects

When using a compound subject (two or more subjects in a sentence), the verb should also be in the plural form. For example:

– Mary and John are planning to go to the movies.

In this sentence, “Mary and John” is the compound subject and “are planning” is the verb. Notice how “are planning” matches with the plural compound subject “Mary and John.”

Collective Nouns

A collective noun refers to a group of people or things. When using a collective noun as a subject in a sentence, the verb can be either singular or plural, depending on the context. For example:

– The team is playing well this season.

In this sentence, “team” is the collective noun and “is playing” is the verb. Notice how the singular verb matches with the collective noun “team.”

– The team are all wearing matching uniforms.

In this sentence, “team” is still the collective noun, but the verb “are wearing” is in the plural form to match the sense of individual members in the team.

In conclusion, forms of agreement in grammar, particularly subject-verb agreement, are crucial to producing high-quality content that is clear and effective in communication. As a copy editor, knowing how to apply these grammatical rules will ensure that the written content is of the highest standard and satisfies the readers.