Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of grammar that can significantly impact the readability and comprehensibility of a written work. It refers to the grammatical rule that governs the usage of verbs with their corresponding subjects in a sentence. Proper subject-verb agreement makes writing clearer, eliminates confusion, and improves the overall quality of a written work.
In this article, we’ll be discussing rules 6-10 of subject-verb agreement. These rules are equally important and must be mastered to achieve proper subject-verb agreement.
Rule 6: Singular subjects joined by “or” or “nor” take a singular verb.
When two singular subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb that follows should agree with the closest subject. For instance, “The boy or the girl is responsible for this mess.”
Rule 7: When a singular subject is connected by “and” to a plural subject, the verb agrees with the plural subject.
When a singular subject joins a plural subject using “and,” the verb should be plural to match the plural subject. For example, “The cat and the dogs are playing in the yard.”
Rule 8: If the subjects are collective nouns referring to a group of individuals, the verb may be singular or plural, depending on the context.
Collective nouns are singular, but they can refer to a group of individuals. Depending on the context, the verb can be either singular or plural. For example, “The class is studying for their exams” or “The class is studying for its exam.”
Rule 9: The verb must agree with the subject, not the complement.
The subject of a sentence determines the verb that follows, not the complement. For example, “The winner of the competition is he” instead of “The winner of the competition is him.”
Rule 10: Subjects that are titles of books, movies, and other creative works take a singular verb.
Titles of books, movies, and other creative works are considered singular subjects, and thus, the verb that follows should be singular. For example, “The Lord of the Rings is an excellent book series.”
In conclusion, mastering subject-verb agreement rules is essential to creating professional, error-free written works. It is helpful to practice these rules regularly and keep them in mind while writing or editing your work. Proper subject-verb agreement ensures clarity and consistency in writing and makes it easier for readers to understand the intended meaning of a sentence.