Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of English grammar. It refers to the correct matching of a subject with its corresponding verb in terms of number, person, and tense. One of the most common examples of subject-verb agreement is when a singular subject is paired with a singular verb or conversely, when a plural subject is paired with a plural verb.
For instance, “The cat eats fish” is an example of a singular subject being matched correctly with a singular verb. Similarly, “The cats eat fish” is an example of a plural subject being matched correctly with a plural verb.
Now, let`s take a closer look at some of the common mistakes made while attempting to match subjects and verbs:
1. Incorrect subject-verb agreement in number
Number refers to whether a subject or verb is singular or plural. A common mistake is when a singular subject is matched with a plural verb, and vice versa. For example, the sentence “The group of students was studying” should be “The group of students were studying” as the subject “group” is plural.
2. Incorrect subject-verb agreement in person
Person refers to whether a subject or verb is first person (I), second person (you), or third person (he/she/it/they). It is essential to ensure that the subject and verb agree in terms of person. For example, the sentence “He and I is going to the party” should be “He and I are going to the party” as the subject “he and I” are both first person.
3. Incorrect subject-verb agreement in tense
Tense refers to the time frame of the sentence, whether it is in the past, present, or future tense. It is important to ensure that the verb matches the correct tense of the subject. For example, the sentence “She was walking to the store when she sees her friend” should be “She was walking to the store when she saw her friend” as the verb “sees” is in the present tense and does not match the past tense “was walking.”
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of English grammar that cannot be overlooked. It not only ensures grammatical correctness but also clarity and comprehension of the message being conveyed. By paying attention to number, person, and tense, one can easily avoid common mistakes and achieve effective communication.