Rules of Verb Subject Agreement

As a copy editor, one of the most important rules of grammar that I`ve come across is the rule of verb subject agreement. This rule states that the verb in a sentence should agree with its subject in number and person. This means that singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs. For instance:

– The boy runs in the park. (singular subject „boy“ takes singular verb „runs“)

– The boys run in the park. (plural subject „boys“ takes plural verb „run“)

Here are some more rules of verb subject agreement to keep in mind:

1. Collective nouns: Collective nouns are nouns that represent a group of people or things, such as team, audience, staff, or family. When the collective noun is treated as a single entity, use a singular verb. When the members of the collective noun are acting independently, use a plural verb. For instance:

– The team is playing well this season. (singular verb)

– The team are arguing about their positions. (plural verb)

2. Indefinite pronouns: Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that refer to a non-specific person or thing, such as anyone, somebody, anything, or everything. When the indefinite pronoun is singular, use a singular verb. When it is plural, use a plural verb. For instance:

– Anyone can join the club if they meet the requirements. (singular verb)

– Some of the students have brought their own materials. (plural verb)

3. Compound subjects: Compound subjects are subjects that consist of two or more nouns or pronouns joined by „and“. Use a plural verb to agree with a compound subject. For instance:

– The cat and the dog chase each other around the house. (plural verb)

4. Singular subjects with „or“ or „nor“: When a singular subject is joined by „or“ or „nor“ to another singular subject, use a singular verb that agrees with the closer subject. For instance:

– Either the car or the bike needs a new tire. (singular verb „needs“ agrees with the closer subject „bike“)

5. Subjects with „each“ or „every“: When the subject is „each“ or „every“, use a singular verb. For instance:

– Each of the students has completed the assignment. (singular verb „has“)

By following these rules of verb subject agreement, you can ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct and clear. And if you`re writing for SEO, remember that using the right keywords in your sentences can also improve your search engine rankings. So why not make your writing both grammatically sound and SEO-friendly?