As a copy editor, writing with proper subject-verb agreement is essential to ensuring clear and effective communication. Subject-verb agreement refers to the grammatical rule that verbs must agree in number with their subjects. In simpler terms, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. Here are some tips on how to achieve proper subject-verb agreement in your writing:
1. Identify the subject in each sentence: The subject is the noun or pronoun that is performing the action in the sentence. For example: “The cat” is the subject in the sentence “The cat is sleeping.”
2. Determine if the subject is singular or plural: Singular subjects refer to one person, place, thing, or idea, while plural subjects refer to more than one. For example: “The cat” is a singular subject, while “The cats” is a plural subject.
3. Choose the correct verb form: Singular subjects require singular verb forms, while plural subjects require plural verb forms. For example: “The cat is sleeping” uses the singular verb form “is” to agree with the singular subject “cat,” while “The cats are sleeping” uses the plural verb form “are” to agree with the plural subject “cats.”
4. Watch out for tricky nouns: Some nouns appear to be plural but are actually singular, and vice versa. For example, “data” is technically a plural noun, but it is often used as a singular noun in everyday speech and writing. In this case, it is important to choose the verb form that agrees with the intended meaning of the noun.
5. Keep an eye on compound subjects: When two or more subjects are connected by “and,” the verb form should be plural. For example: “The cat and the dog are sleeping” uses the plural verb form “are” to agree with the plural compound subject “cat and dog.”
Correct subject-verb agreement is an important aspect of clear and effective writing. By following these tips and paying close attention to your sentence structure, you can improve the clarity and impact of your writing.
