English Grammar Series: Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement

In this post, we tackle one of the most fundamental aspects of English grammar: subject-verb agreement. Whether you're writing your first English essay or honing your speaking skills, subject-verb agreement plays a crucial role in conveying your thoughts accurately. It seems simple enough - the subject of a sentence must always agree with its verb. But as with all things English grammar, there's more than meets the eye. Make sure to test your knowledge by fill out the quiz at the end of the article

1. What is Subject-Verb Agreement

2. Understanding Singular and Plural Verbs

3. Special Cases in Subject-Verb Agreement

4. Real-world implications of Subject-Verb Agreement

5. Most common mistakes

6. Test your knowledge - interactive quiz

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

At its core, subject-verb agreement is the principle that the subject of a sentence and its verb must be in the same 'number'. A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb.

For instance, consider the sentence, "The cat purrs." Here, 'the cat' is a singular subject that agrees with the singular verb 'purrs'.

In contrast, "The cats purr" features a plural subject, 'the cats', which rightly agrees with the plural verb 'purr'.

Understanding Singular and Plural Verbs

English language learners often grapple with distinguishing between singular and plural verbs. In the present tense, singular verbs typically end in 's' or 'es', whereas plural verbs do not. For instance, 'reads' is the singular form of the verb 'read', and 'flies' is the singular form of 'fly'.

Here are a few examples:

- She reads a book every day. (singular subject and verb)

- They read a book every day. (plural subject and verb)

In past tense, however, the verb form remains the same for both singular and plural subjects.

For example:

- She read a book yesterday. (singular subject and verb)

- They read a book yesterday. (plural subject and verb)

Special Cases in Subject-Verb Agreement

However, every grammar rule has its exceptions. Let's examine some trickier cases in subject-verb agreement that often confuse English learners.

1. Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns such as 'everyone', 'each', 'nobody', 'anyone', 'someone', etc., always take a singular verb.

For example:

- Everyone loves a good book.

- Nobody is at the door.

2. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns such as 'team', 'group', 'band', 'family', etc., can take a singular or plural verb based on whether the group is considered a single unit or individuals acting separately.

For instance:

- The team wins the match. (The team is acting as a unit.)

- The team argue among themselves about the next strategy. (The team members are acting individually.)

3. Fractions and Percentages

With fractions and percentages, the verb agrees with the quantity they're referring to.

Examples:

- Half of the pie is gone. (Pie is singular.)

- Fifty percent of the students are studying. (Students are plural.)

4. Quantities and Measurements

Quantities and measurements, when considered as a single entity, take a singular verb.

For example:

- Ten miles is a long distance to run.

- Five years is the maximum penalty for the offense.

In these instances, 'ten miles' and 'five years' are considered one entity, hence the singular verb.

5. Titles or Names

Titles or names of books, movies, or other works plural in form take a singular verb because they're considered a single entity.

For instance:

- "Pride and Prejudice" is my favorite novel.

- "The Beatles" is a well-known band.

Here, 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'The Beatles' are treated as singular entities, thus requiring a singular verb.

6. Subjects Joined by 'And'

When two or more subjects are joined by 'and', they typically require a plural verb.

Example:

- John and Mary are at the concert.

However, a singular verb is used when subjects joined by 'and' refer to the same person or thing.

Example:

- Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.

In this sentence, 'peanut butter and jelly' refers to one type of sandwich, so a singular verb is used.

7. Subjects Joined by 'Or' or 'Nor'

When two or more subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb agrees with the subject closer to it.

Examples:

- Neither the coach nor the players are satisfied.

- Either the pencil or the pens are in the drawer.

In the first sentence, 'players' is closer to the verb 'are', hence using the plural form. In the second sentence, 'pens' is closer to 'are', hence the plural form again.

8. Subordinate Clauses

Sometimes, confusion arises when a phrase or clause between the subject and verb makes it challenging to discern whether a singular or plural verb is necessary. Always remember, the verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase.

Example:

- The girl with all the dogs walks down the street.

Here, 'girl' is the subject, so 'walks', a singular verb, is used, despite the plural noun 'dogs' appearing closer to the verb.

9. Inverted Subjects

In questions and other sentences where the subject follows the verb, make sure the verb still agrees with the subject.

Example: In the garden play two kids.

Real-World Implications of Subject-Verb Agreement

While understanding subject-verb agreement is crucial for mastering the English language, it's not just a theoretical concept. The practical applications in both academic writing and business communication are significant. Let's explore how subject-verb agreement plays a vital role in these contexts.

Academic Writing

In academic writing, the precision of language is paramount. A single error in subject-verb agreement can undermine the credibility of your entire paper. For instance, writing "The results of the experiments has been inconclusive" instead of "The results of the experiments have been inconclusive" can draw attention away from your research findings and focus it on your grammatical oversight. Such errors can also affect your grades and how seriously your work is taken in academic circles. Therefore, a solid understanding of subject-verb agreement is essential for producing high-quality academic papers.

Business Communication

In the business world, effective communication is key to success. Whether you're drafting an email, creating a business proposal, or delivering a presentation, subject-verb agreement errors can be detrimental. Imagine reading a business contract that states, "The terms and conditions is listed below." Such an error not only distracts the reader but also casts doubt on the professionalism of the entity behind the document. In worst-case scenarios, it could even lead to misunderstandings that have legal implications. Therefore, mastering subject-verb agreement is not just a matter of grammar; it's a matter of credibility and effectiveness in professional settings.

Most Common Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement may seem straightforward, but it's easy to get tripped up by some common pitfalls. Let's look at some of the most frequent mistakes people make and how to avoid them.