Subject Verb Agreement Presentation: A Guide to Effective Writing
As a copy editor with experience in SEO, one of the most common errors I come across is subject verb disagreement. It’s a grammatical mistake that can easily slip past writers, but it can significantly impact the clarity and effectiveness of their writing.
In this presentation, we’ll go through the basics of subject verb agreement and provide tips on how to avoid common errors.
What is subject verb agreement?
Subject verb agreement refers to the grammatical relationship between a subject and its verb in a sentence. Simply put, the verb needs to agree with the subject in terms of number and person.
For example, “The cat jumps” is correct because both the subject (cat) and the verb (jumps) are in the third person singular form. However, “The cat jump” is incorrect because the verb is not in agreement with the subject.
Tips to avoid common errors in subject verb agreement
1. Identify the subject
Before you can ensure that your verb is in agreement with the subject, you need to identify the subject of your sentence. The subject is usually a noun or pronoun that performs the action in a sentence.
For example, in the sentence “She sings beautifully,” the subject is “she.”
2. Match singular subjects with singular verbs
If the subject is singular, the verb should also be in the singular form. This means adding an “s” to the base form of the verb.
For example, “The dog barks” is correct, while “The dog bark” is incorrect because bark is not in agreement with the singular subject.
3. Match plural subjects with plural verbs
If the subject is plural, the verb should also be in the plural form. This means using the base form of the verb without adding an “s.”
For example, “The dogs bark” is correct, while “The dogs barks” is incorrect because barks is not in agreement with the plural subject.
4. Watch out for tricky subjects
Some subjects can be tricky and may cause confusion. For example, collective nouns, such as “family,” “team,” or “group,” can be either singular or plural depending on the context. Similarly, indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone,” “anyone,” or “someone,” are always singular, while “some” and “many” are always plural.
5. Maintain consistency
Consistency is key in subject verb agreement. Once you have identified the subject and the verb, make sure to maintain the same number and person throughout your writing.
In conclusion, subject verb agreement is a crucial aspect of effective writing. By following the tips outlined in this presentation, you can avoid common errors and improve the clarity and readability of your writing. Happy writing!