Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammar rule that states that the verb used in a sentence should match the subject in terms of number and person. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. In this article, we will discuss subject-verb agreement and provide suitable examples to make it easier to understand.
1. Singular subjects and verbs
When the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb must also be singular. For example:
– The dog barks at night. (The singular subject “dog” matches the singular verb “barks.”)
– The sun rises in the east. (The singular subject “sun” matches the singular verb “rises.”)
– She is dancing in the rain. (The singular subject “she” matches the singular verb “is dancing.”)
2. Plural subjects and verbs
When the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb must also be plural. For example:
– The dogs bark at night. (The plural subject “dogs” matches the plural verb “bark.”)
– The students are studying for their exams. (The plural subject “students” matches the plural verb “are studying.”)
– They have been watching movies all day. (The plural subject “they” matches the plural verb “have been watching.”)
3. Indefinite pronouns
When using indefinite pronouns as the subject of a sentence, it can be difficult to determine whether the subject is singular or plural. For example:
– Each of the dogs is barking at night. (The indefinite pronoun “each” is singular, so it matches the singular verb “is barking.”)
– Some of the students are studying for their exams. (The indefinite pronoun “some” is plural, so it matches the plural verb “are studying.”)
– None of the food was left on the table. (The indefinite pronoun “none” is singular, so it matches the singular verb “was left.”)
In summary, subject-verb agreement is crucial in writing grammatically correct sentences. It is essential to match the subject and verb in terms of number and person. Understanding this rule can improve your writing skills and make your work more effective and professional.