Easy Way to Remember Subject Verb Agreement

As a copy editor, one of the most common mistakes I see is a lack of subject-verb agreement. It can be a little confusing to keep track of, but there are some easy tricks you can use to make sure your writing is grammatically correct.

First, it`s important to know what subject-verb agreement is. Essentially, it means that the subject and verb in a sentence have to match in number. If you have a singular subject, you need a singular verb. If you have a plural subject, you need a plural verb. Here are some examples:

– The cat (singular subject) is sleeping (singular verb).

– The cats (plural subject) are sleeping (plural verb).

Now, onto the easy tricks:

1. Simplify your sentence. If you`re having trouble figuring out which verb to use, try simplifying the sentence. For example, instead of “The group of people is running,” you could say “The group is running.” This makes it more obvious that “group” is the singular subject.

2. Check the verb first. Sometimes it`s easier to start with the verb and work backwards. For example, if you know you need a singular verb, you can look for singular subjects in the sentence. This can be especially helpful when the subject is a little more complicated, like a collective noun.

3. Pay attention to words like “and” and “or.” When you have multiple subjects joined by “and,” you need a plural verb. When you have multiple subjects joined by “or,” you use the verb that matches the closest subject. For example:

– Jane and John are going to the store.

– Either Jane or John is going to the store.

4. Watch out for tricky nouns. Some words can be a bit tricky when it comes to subject-verb agreement. For example, “none” can be either singular or plural depending on how it`s used in the sentence. Similarly, “everybody” and “nobody” are always singular.

5. Read your writing out loud. This may sound silly, but reading your writing out loud can help you catch subject-verb agreement errors. If something sounds off, it probably is.

By following these easy tricks, you can make sure your writing has proper subject-verb agreement. This will not only make your writing more grammatically correct, but it will also make it easier for your readers to understand. Happy writing!