Subject-verb agreement is an important concept in English grammar. It refers to the agreement in number between the subject and the verb in a sentence. In simple words, subject-verb agreement means that the verb used in a sentence must be in agreement with the noun or pronoun that is the subject of the sentence.
For example, if the subject of a sentence is singular, then the verb used in that sentence must also be singular. Similarly, if the subject is plural, then the verb must be plural too. This rule might seem simple, but it can be tricky to follow in some cases.
One common mistake that people make is using a plural verb with a singular subject, or vice versa. For instance, “the dog run” is incorrect because the subject “dog” is singular, while the verb “run” is plural. Instead, the correct sentence should be “the dog runs”, where the verb “runs” is singular, in agreement with the subject “dog”.
Another common mistake is using a singular verb with a plural subject, or vice versa. For example, “the boys is” is incorrect because the subject “boys” is plural, while the verb “is” is singular. The correct sentence should be “the boys are”, where the verb “are” is plural, in agreement with the subject “boys”.
It is important to remember that subject-verb agreement is not only about singular and plural forms, but it also involves other forms such as present, past, and future tenses. For instance, “I am going to the store” is correct because the subject “I” is singular and the verb “am going” is in the present tense.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule of English grammar that should not be overlooked. By following this rule, you can ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct and easy to understand. So, the next time you write or edit a piece of content, make sure to double-check the subject-verb agreement to avoid any grammar errors.