Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of grammar that every writer and editor must pay attention to. A proper understanding of the subject-verb agreement list of words is essential to ensure that sentences are clear, concise, and grammatically correct. In this article, we will explore the rules and common words that are often the subject of subject-verb agreement rules.
The basic rule of subject-verb agreement is that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. For example, “The cat sleeps on the couch” (singular subject “cat”) and “The cats sleep on the couch” (plural subject “cats”).
There are some common words that can create confusion when it comes to subject-verb agreement. Here is a list of some of them.
1. Each, either, everyone, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, somebody – These words are singular, and therefore the verb must also be singular. For instance, “Each of the students was given a prize.”
2. Neither, none – These words can be singular or plural depending on the context. For example, “Neither of the girls was interested in the science fair” (singular), or “None of the students were prepared for the quiz” (plural).
3. Some, many, several, few – These words are plural, and thus the verb must be plural. For instance, “Many of the children are excited about the party.”
4. Collective nouns – These nouns refer to groups of people, animals, or things, and they can take either a singular or plural verb depending on the context. For example, “The team is excited about the game” (singular verb), or “The team are arguing about the play” (plural verb).
5. Indefinite pronouns – These pronouns do not refer to a specific noun, but rather they replace a general or unknown noun. Indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural, and the verb must agree with the pronoun. For example, “Somebody has left their jacket” (singular pronoun, plural verb) or “Several people lost their wallets” (plural pronoun, plural verb).
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of good writing and editing. Understanding the subject-verb agreement list of words is critical to ensuring that sentences are clear and grammatically correct. As a copy editor, paying attention to subject-verb agreement can elevate the quality of your work and make your writing more effective.