What Are the Agreement between Subject and Verb
When it comes to English grammar, few things are more essential than the agreement between subject and verb. This concept may seem simple, but it can often be a stumbling block for writers and speakers who are not familiar with its rules.
So, what exactly is the agreement between subject and verb? In short, it means that the verb in a sentence must agree with the subject in terms of number and person. Let`s break that down further.
Number:
When we talk about number in this context, we are referring to whether the subject is singular or plural. If the subject is singular (referring to one thing), then the verb must also be singular. For example:
– The dog barks. (“dog” is singular, so “barks” is singular)
– My sister walks to work. (“sister” is singular, so “walks” is singular)
If the subject is plural (referring to more than one thing), then the verb must also be plural. For example:
– The dogs bark. (“dogs” is plural, so “bark” is plural)
– My sisters walk to work. (“sisters” is plural, so “walk” is plural)
Person:
Person refers to whether the subject is in first person (referring to the speaker or writer), second person (referring to the person being spoken to), or third person (referring to someone or something else). The verb must agree with the subject in terms of person as well as number:
– I am happy. (“I” is first person singular, so “am” is first person singular)
– You are happy. (“you” is second person singular, so “are” is second person singular)
– He is happy. (“he” is third person singular, so “is” is third person singular)
– We are happy. (“we” is first person plural, so “are” is first person plural)
– You (all) are happy. (“you” is second person plural, so “are” is second person plural)
– They are happy. (“they” is third person plural, so “are” is third person plural)
There are a few exceptions to the rules of subject-verb agreement. For example, when dealing with collective nouns (which refer to groups of people or things as a single unit), the verb can be singular or plural depending on context:
– The team is playing well. (referring to the team as a unit)
– The team are arguing about strategy. (referring to the individual members of the team)
Another exception is when dealing with compound subjects (two or more subjects joined by “and”). In this case, the verb should be plural:
– Tom and Sue are going to the movies.
In summary, proper subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear and effective communication. By following the rules of number and person, writers and speakers can ensure that their sentences are grammatically correct and easy to understand.