Subject and Verbs Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of writing that every copy editor must know and implement accurately. This grammar rule establishes a connection between the subject and the verb in a sentence. To put it simply, the verb must agree with its subject in terms of person (1st, 2nd, 3rd), number (singular or plural), and gender (male or female).

Most readers might not notice minor grammatical errors, but when it comes to subject-verb agreement, even a small mistake can disrupt the flow of the sentence and confuse the audience. So, let`s take a closer look at how this rule works and how copy editors can implement it with ease.

1. Match the subject and verb in number

The first and most basic rule of subject-verb agreement is to make sure that the subject and verb agree in number. For instance, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

Incorrect: The development team has to work on their assignments.

Correct: The development team has to work on its assignments.

Incorrect: The new computers in the lab needs an upgrade.

Correct: The new computers in the lab need an upgrade.

2. Consider the person of the subject

The second rule of subject-verb agreements is to match the subject and verb in person. This rule is essential when the subject and verb are in the third-person singular (he, she, it), as they take a different form of the verb compared to the first or second person.

Incorrect: Me and my boss is going to the meeting.

Correct: My boss and I are going to the meeting.

Incorrect: The book that she wrote were successful.

Correct: The book that she wrote was successful.

3. Account for gender

The third rule of subject-verb agreement is to consider gender in your sentence. This is especially important when referring to people or animals, where the verb form changes depending on whether the subject is male or female.

Incorrect: The actress for the role in the movie were not selected.

Correct: The actress for the role in the movie was not selected.

Incorrect: The couple both enjoy going out to dinner.

Correct: The couple both enjoys going out to dinner.

In summary, subject-verb agreement is an essential grammar rule that must be followed to create effective and clear writing. Copy editors must ensure that both the subject and verb match in number, person, and gender to avoid mistakes that can confuse the reader. Follow these rules, and you`ll find that your writing is much more precise, polished, and effective.