Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of English grammar, which ensures that a sentence is well-constructed and makes sense. A sentence makes sense only if the subject and verb agree with each other in number, which means that a singular subject should have a singular verb, and a plural subject should have a plural verb.
To help you understand this concept better, here are some examples of subject-verb agreement:
1. Singular subject and singular verb:
– The dog barks at the mailman every morning.
– The teacher explains the lesson well.
– The book belongs to me.
2. Plural subject and plural verb:
– The dogs bark at the mailman every morning.
– The teachers explain the lesson well.
– The books belong to us.
3. Singular subject and plural verb:
– My sister and I love to travel.
– The CEO and the managers discuss the budget.
4. Plural subject and singular verb:
– The news is shocking.
– The police department investigates the crime.
In the first example, the singular subject “dog” has a singular verb “barks,” while in the second example, the plural subject “dogs” has a plural verb “bark.”
In the third example, the singular subjects “sister” and “I” are joined by the plural verb “love,” while in the fourth example, the plural subject “news” has a singular verb “is.”
It is important to note that some nouns that may seem plural, like “news,” “mathematics,” and “physics,” are treated as singular nouns.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is essential in writing clear and effective sentences. By following these examples, you can ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct and easy to understand.