Verbs Agreement English

As a copy editor, one of the most common grammatical issues we come across is verbs agreement in English. This is the rule that governs the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. When writing in English, it is essential to ensure that verbs agree with their subjects to express complete thoughts.

Verbs agreement in English is crucial as it ensures that the subject and verb in a sentence work together to convey the intended meaning of the writer. For instance, if one writes, “The dog runs in the park,” the subject is “the dog,” and the verb is “runs.” In this case, the verb agrees with the subject as it reflects the action of what the dog is doing.

However, if the sentence reads, “The dogs runs in the park,” there is a disagreement between the subject and the verb. “Dogs” is plural, while “runs” is singular, making the sentence grammatically incorrect. The correct verb should have been “run” to agree with the plural subject – “The dogs run in the park.”

To avoid such errors, it is essential to understand the basic rule of subject-verb agreement. In English, the subject determines the number of the verb, whether singular or plural. Singular subjects require singular verbs, while plural subjects require plural verbs.

For example, “The boy runs” and “The boys run” indicate the agreement between the subject and the verb. The singular subject “boy” agrees with the singular verb “runs,” while the plural subject “boys” agrees with the plural verb “run.”

One challenge that writers face is when the subject and verb are separated by other words. These might include prepositions, adjectives, or adverbs. However, the same rule applies – the subject determines the number of the verb.

For instance, take the sentence, “The book on the table is interesting.” In this case, “book” is the subject and “is” is the verb. The prepositional phrase “on the table” in between the subject and verb does not affect the agreement between the two. The verb should remain singular, as the subject is singular – “The book on the table IS interesting.”

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule in English writing that cannot be overlooked. Writers and copy editors alike must pay close attention to ensure that verbs agree with their subjects in a sentence. By mastering this rule, writers can express their intended meaning accurately and avoid grammatical errors in their writing.