Questions for Subject Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is an important aspect of English grammar that ensures coherence and clarity in writing. Properly agreeing the subject and verb in a sentence helps the readers understand the intended meaning of the sentence. However, perfecting subject-verb agreement can be tricky, especially when writing in the English language. Here are some common questions to ask when checking for subject-verb agreement in your writing.

1) What is the subject of the sentence?

The subject of a sentence is often the noun or pronoun that performs the action in the sentence. For example, in the sentence “The dog barks,” the subject is “dog.” It`s important to identify the subject in a sentence for proper agreement with the verb.

2) Is the subject singular or plural?

Identifying whether the subject is singular or plural is important in determining the correct verb form. For singular subjects, verbs usually end with “s” or “es,” while plural subjects typically take verbs that don`t end with “s” or “es.” For example, “The dog barks” is singular, while “The dogs bark” is plural.

3) Are there any intervening words between the subject and verb?

Intervening words, such as prepositional phrases, can cause confusion in subject-verb agreement. It`s important to identify the subject and not be distracted by intervening words. For example, in the sentence “The group of dogs bark,” “group” is not the subject, so the verb should be “barks” to agree with “dogs.”

4) When using compound subjects, how do you properly agree with the verb?

Compound subjects occur when two or more subjects are joined by conjunctions such as “and” or “or.” When using compound subjects, use a plural verb if the subjects are joined by “and,” and a singular verb if joined by “or.” For example, “The dog and the cat play” is plural, while “The dog or the cat plays” is singular.

5) How do you agree the verb with collective nouns?

Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things, such as team, audience, or class. When using collective nouns, use a singular verb when the group is seen as a unit, and a plural verb when the group is seen as individuals. For example, “The team is playing well” is singular, while “The team are arguing among themselves” is plural.

In conclusion, properly agreeing the subject and verb is essential for effective communication in writing. By asking these questions when editing your work, you can ensure that your writing is clear and easy to understand. Remember to always identify the subject, determine whether it is singular or plural, and be mindful of intervening words, compound subjects, and collective nouns.