Subject-verb agreement is a critical aspect of the English language. It is the foundation on which effective communication is built. As a professional, I understand the importance of subject-verb agreement in creating content that is both grammatically correct and optimized for search engine rankings. In this article, we will be exploring the 24 rules of subject-verb agreement and how to apply them effectively.
1. A singular subject requires a singular verb.
Example: The cat is sleeping.
2. A plural subject requires a plural verb.
Example: The cats are sleeping.
3. Compound subjects that are joined by ‘and’ require a plural verb.
Example: Apples and oranges are fruits.
4. Compound subjects that are joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’ require a verb that agrees with the closest subject.
Example: Neither the cat nor the dog is happy.
5. Collective nouns require a singular verb.
Example: The team is practicing.
6. Indefinite pronouns such as each, every, anyone, someone, everyone, etc. require a singular verb.
Example: Each of the boys is attending the party.
7. Indefinite pronouns such as both, few, several, many, etc. require a plural verb.
Example: Many of the boys are attending the party.
8. Subjects that are phrases require a singular verb.
Example: The man with the hat is my father.
9. Singular verbs are used with singular nouns that end in ‘s.’
Example: Mathematics is not my favorite subject.
10. Collective nouns that refer to individuals require a plural verb.
Example: The jury were unable to reach a decision.
11. Subjects that contain words such as ‘half’, ‘part’, ‘fraction’ require a singular verb if they are being treated as a single unit.
Example: Half of the pizza is gone.
12. When subjects are separated by phrases, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Example: The teacher, along with his students, is attending the conference.
13. When subjects are separated by a preposition, the verb agrees with the subject before the preposition.
Example: The box of chocolates was left on the table.
14. When ‘either/or’ or ‘neither/nor’ is used, the verb agrees with the noun closest to it.
Example: Neither the cat nor the dogs are happy.
15. When a subject has both singular and plural nouns, the verb agrees with the noun closest to it.
Example: The man and his children are coming.
16. When a subject is a singular noun, but the meaning is plural, a plural verb is used.
Example: The United States have a diverse population.
17. Subject-verb agreement is not affected by words that come between the subject and verb.
Example: The book, as well as the pen, is on the table.
18. When the subject is a title, a singular verb is used.
Example: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a classic novel.
19. When a singular noun represents a group of people, a plural verb is used.
Example: The committee are discussing the issue.
20. When a subject is a gerund phrase, it requires a singular verb.
Example: Swimming is my favorite hobby.
21. When a subject is an infinitive phrase, the verb agrees with the subject of the sentence, not the object of the infinitive.
Example: To fly a plane requires skill.
22. When a subject is a clause, the verb agrees with the subject of the clause.
Example: That he is coming to the party is good news.
23. When a subject is a question, the verb agrees with the subject (the answer to the question).
Example: Who is coming to the party?
24. When a subject is an amount of money, time, weight, or distance, a singular verb is used.
Example: Ten dollars is not enough.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is essential to effective communication and proper grammar. By following these 24 rules, you can ensure that your writing is both grammatically correct and optimized for SEO. Remember to always double-check your subject-verb agreement to create high-quality content.