Agreement Pattern: A Guide to Proper Subject-Verb Agreement
As a copy editor, one of your primary roles is to ensure that the text you`re working on is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. In fact, one of the most common errors you`ll come across is related to the agreement pattern in a sentence. In this article, we`ll discuss what agreement pattern is and how to use it correctly.
Subject-verb agreement in a sentence is necessary to maintain the clarity and meaning of the sentence. The verb in a sentence must agree with the subject, whether it is singular or plural. The subject is the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about, while the verb is the action or state of being that the subject performs.
A common example of subject-verb agreement is “He walks to the park.” The subject “he” is singular, so the verb “walks” also needs to be singular to agree with the subject. However, if the subject is plural, such as “they,” the verb should be plural too, as in “They walk to the park.”
Here are some key points to help you get a better understanding of agreement pattern:
1. The subject and verb must agree in number. If the subject is plural, then you should use a plural verb, and if the subject is singular, then use a singular verb.
2. When the subject and verb are separated by other words, it is essential to identify the subject correctly. For example, in the sentence “The book, along with its contents, is on the table,” the subject is “book,” not “contents.” Therefore, the verb should be singular to agree with the subject.
3. When the subject is a collective noun, such as “team,” “family,” or “audience,” the verb can either be singular or plural, depending on the context of the sentence. For instance, “The team is winning the game” uses the singular verb “is” since the subject “team” is singular. However, “The team members are celebrating their victory” uses “are” as the verb because the subject “members” is plural.
4. Indefinite pronouns that are singular, such as “everyone” or “something,” require a singular verb, while indefinite pronouns that are plural, such as “some” or “many,” require a plural verb.
5. Compound subjects joined by “and” require a plural verb, while compound subjects joined by “or/nor” require a verb that agrees with the closest subject. For example, “John and Mary are leaving” uses “are” as the verb because both John and Mary are the subjects. On the other hand, “Neither John nor Mary is coming” uses “is” as the verb because “Mary” is the closest subject to the verb.
In conclusion, agreement pattern in a sentence is a critical aspect of grammar that ensures clarity and accuracy in writing. As a copy editor, it`s your responsibility to check for subject-verb agreement to make sure the text is grammatically correct. By following these guidelines, you`ll be well-equipped to identify and correct agreement pattern errors and bring out the best in your writing.
