Subject to Count Agreement
Subject-verb agreement, or SVA, is an essential rule in grammar that governs the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. When it comes to SVA, one of the most common mistakes made by writers is subject-count agreement, which occurs when the subject and verb do not agree in terms of number (singular or plural).
To avoid this error, you must have a good understanding of subject-count agreement. This article provides a comprehensive guide on subject-count agreement, including its definition, examples, and tips on how to avoid it.
Subject-Count Agreement: Definition and Examples
Subject-count agreement occurs when the subject and verb do not agree in terms of number. In other words, when the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular, and the same applies to the plural subject-verb combination. Here are a few examples of subject-count agreement:
Incorrect: The dog that lives next door to me plays fetch in the park.
Correct: The dogs that live next door to me play fetch in the park.
Incorrect: One of my friends who are musicians is coming over tonight.
Correct: One of my friends who is a musician is coming over tonight.
Incorrect: Every student in the class has their own laptop.
Correct: Every student in the class has his or her laptop.
Tips on Avoiding Subject-Count Agreement
To avoid subject-count agreement, you need to understand some of the rules that govern the correct usage of subject-verb agreement. Here are some tips:
1. Identify the subject in the sentence: The subject is usually the noun that performs the action in the sentence or is described by the predicate. Once you have identified the subject, determine whether it`s singular or plural.
2. Pay attention to indefinite pronouns: Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, someone, nobody, and anybody are usually singular and, therefore, require a singular verb. For instance, “Everyone needs to be present at the meeting.”
3. Watch out for collective nouns: Collective nouns are singular, but they refer to a group of people or things. Examples of collective nouns include group, team, class, family, etc. When using collective nouns, ensure that the verb agrees with the noun`s number. For instance, “The team is practicing hard for the game.”
4. Be careful with compound subjects: Compound subjects are those that have two or more nouns joined by and, or, or nor. In such cases, the verb should agree with the noun closest to it in terms of number. For instance, “Tom and Jerry are coming over for dinner.”
Conclusion
Subject-count agreement is an essential element of grammar that writers need to master to enhance their writing skills. By understanding the rules that govern subject-verb agreement, you can avoid making mistakes that could make your writing sound awkward and unprofessional. Always ensure that your subjects and verbs agree in terms of number to make your writing clear and concise.