When it comes to writing in English, one of the most important aspects to keep in mind is agreement between subjects and verbs. This is especially crucial for those who are learning English as a second language. In this article, we will discuss what agreement is and provide examples of sentences with proper agreement.
What is agreement in English?
Agreement refers to the match between the subject and the verb in a sentence. This means that the verb must agree with the subject in terms of person, number, and sometimes gender. For example, when the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and when the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
Examples of sentences with proper agreement:
1. The dog barks loudly every morning. (singular)
2. The students are studying for their exams. (plural)
3. The singer sings beautifully. (singular)
4. The cars are parked in the parking lot. (plural)
In the first sentence, “dog” is the singular subject and “barks” is the singular verb that agrees with it. In the second sentence, “students” is the plural subject and “are studying” is the plural verb that agrees with it. In the third sentence, “singer” is the singular subject and “sings” is the singular verb that agrees with it. In the fourth sentence, “cars” is the plural subject and “are parked” is the plural verb that agrees with it.
Common errors in agreement:
1. Incorrect subject-verb agreement with compound subjects
Incorrect: The book or the pen is on the table. (singular verb used with a compound subject)
Correct: The book or the pen are on the table. (plural verb used with a compound subject)
2. Incorrect subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns
Incorrect: Someone is missing their wallet. (singular verb used with an indefinite pronoun)
Correct: Someone is missing his or her wallet. (singular verb used with gender-neutral indefinite pronoun)
3. Incorrect subject-verb agreement with collective nouns
Incorrect: The team are playing well. (plural verb used with a collective noun)
Correct: The team is playing well. (singular verb used with a collective noun)
4. Incorrect subject-verb agreement with phrases that come between the subject and the verb
Incorrect: The boy, along with his friends, are going to the park. (plural verb used with a subject and a phrase in between)
Correct: The boy, along with his friends, is going to the park. (singular verb used with a subject and a phrase in between)
In conclusion, agreement between subjects and verbs is essential for writing in English. It ensures that sentences are grammatically correct and easy to read and understand. By keeping these rules in mind and practicing proper agreement, you can improve your English writing skills and communicate more effectively.