Agreement of subject and verb is an essential rule of English grammar. It is essential to ensure that the verb agrees with the subject in terms of number and person. Disregarding this rule can create confusion and lead to miscommunication. Poor grammar can also hurt your credibility as a writer, so it is essential to understand and practice exercises on agreement of subject and verb.
Here are some exercises you can practice to improve your agreement of subject and verb:
1. Singular and Plural Rules
The basic rule of singular and plural agreement holds that singular subjects require singular verbs, while plural subjects require plural verbs. For example:
– The dog barks in the park. (singular subject, singular verb)
– The dogs bark in the park. (plural subject, plural verb)
2. Intervening Phrases and Clauses
Intervening phrases and clauses can sometimes lead to agreement errors. However, the subject always determines the agreement of the verb. For example:
– The cat, along with its kittens, is sleeping. (singular subject, singular verb)
– The cats, along with their kittens, are sleeping. (plural subject, plural verb)
3. Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns like everyone, somebody, anybody, and each are always singular. Therefore, they take singular verbs. For example:
– Everyone knows the rules. (singular subject, singular verb)
4. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns refer to a group of people, animals, or things. When they refer to a group as a whole, they take singular verbs. But when they refer to individuals in the group, they take plural verbs. For example:
– The team is playing well. (singular verb)
– The team members are all playing well. (plural verb)
5. Verbs that End in -s
Verbs that end in -s only take -s when the subject is a third-person singular. For example:
– She swims every day. (third-person singular)
– They swim every day. (not third-person singular)
In conclusion, exercising on agreement of subject and verb is crucial to correct grammar usage. The correct use of singular and plural rules, intervening phrases and clauses, indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, and verbs that end in -s can help you communicate more effectively. Remember to always keep these rules in mind to avoid any errors and enhance your writing abilities.