Subject-verb disagreement is a common grammatical error that occurs when the subject and verb in a sentence do not agree in number. This can happen when a sentence includes a subject that is singular, but the verb is in the plural form or vice versa. In this article, we will discuss the meaning and common causes of subject-verb disagreements and how to correct them.
Meaning of Subject-Verb Disagreements
A subject-verb disagreement occurs when the subject and verb in a sentence are not in agreement with each other. This means that the number of the subject determines the number of the verb, and they both must be singular or plural. When there is a discrepancy between the two, the sentence becomes grammatically incorrect and can be confusing or misleading.
Common Causes of Subject-Verb Disagreements
The most common causes of subject-verb disagreements are related to the number and proximity of the subject and the verb. Here are some common examples:
Number
When the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. For example:
– Mary walks to school. (Correct)
– Mary walk to school. (Incorrect)
When the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. For example:
– They walk to school. (Correct)
– They walks to school. (Incorrect)
Proximity
Sometimes, the subject and verb are separated by other words in a sentence, such as prepositional phrases, clauses, or modifiers. In these cases, it`s important to identify the subject and make sure the verb agrees with it, not the other words. For example:
– The boy, along with his friends, plays soccer. (Correct – “boy” is the subject, not “friends”)
– The boy, along with his friends, play soccer. (Incorrect)
How to Correct Subject-Verb Disagreements
The most effective way to correct subject-verb disagreements is to identify the subject and make sure the verb agrees with it in number. Here are some tips:
– Identify the subject: Look for the noun or pronoun that is performing the action in the sentence.
– Determine the number: Is the subject singular or plural?
– Choose the correct verb: If the subject is singular, use a singular verb. If the subject is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples:
– The dog barks at the mailman. (Correct)
– The dog bark at the mailman. (Incorrect)
– My sister and I are going to the beach. (Correct)
– My sister and I is going to the beach. (Incorrect)
Conclusion
Subject-verb disagreements are a common grammatical error that can be easily corrected by identifying the subject and making sure the verb agrees with it in number. By following the tips and examples provided in this article, you can improve your writing and avoid confusing or misleading statements. As a professional, it`s important to pay attention to these errors to ensure that your content is clear, concise, and grammatically correct.