As a copy editor with experience in SEO, it`s crucial to understand the basic rules of grammar, particularly when it comes to agreement of the verb. This rule dictates that the verb must agree with the subject in a sentence, ensuring that the sentence is grammatically correct. In this article, we`ll discuss some agreement of the verb examples to help you better understand this important concept.

Singular and Plural Subjects

The most basic rule of agreement of the verb is that singular subjects must have singular verbs, while plural subjects require plural verbs. For example:

– My friend is coming to visit me. (singular subject, singular verb)

– My friends are coming to visit me. (plural subject, plural verb)

In both sentences, the verb (`is` and `are`) agrees with the subject (`friend` and `friends`).

Compound Subjects

When a sentence has a compound subject, meaning two or more subjects joined by `and`, the verb must be plural. For example:

– John and Mary are going to the park. (compound subject, plural verb)

In this sentence, the verb `are` agrees with the compound subject `John and Mary`.

Subject-Verb Agreement with `Either… Or` and `Neither… Nor`

When using `either… or` or `neither… nor` to join two subjects, the verb agrees with the closer subject. For example:

– Neither the cat nor the dog likes to swim. (singular verb `likes` agrees with the closer subject `dog`)

– Either the book or the magazines are on the table. (plural verb `are` agrees with the closer subject `magazines`)

Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns, such as `everyone`, `someone` or `no one`, are treated as singular subjects and require singular verbs. For example:

– Everyone in the room is enjoying the show. (singular subject, singular verb)

– No one wants to be left behind. (singular subject, singular verb)

Subject-Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to groups of people or things, and can be singular or plural depending on the context. For example:

– The team is playing well today. (singular noun, singular verb)

– The jury are divided in their verdict. (plural noun, plural verb)

In the second example, the collective noun `jury` is treated as a plural noun, therefore requiring a plural verb.

Conclusion

Agreement of the verb is an essential part of good grammar, ensuring that sentences are clear and concise. Remembering to match the subject and verb in both number and person is crucial for effective communication. So, next time you`re writing, make sure to keep these agreement of the verb examples in mind for grammatically correct and clear writing.