As a copy editor, one of the foundational principles of writing that is essential to understand is subject-verb agreement. This concept refers to the way in which the subject and the verb of a sentence are in alignment in terms of grammatical structure. In other words, the verb must match the subject in terms of number, person, and tense.
Understanding subject-verb agreement is crucial for writers who want to improve the clarity and effectiveness of their writing. Here are some tips to help you grasp this concept and apply it to your own writing.
First, it is important to understand the basic structure of a sentence. A sentence typically consists of a subject, which is the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about, and a verb, which is the action or state of being that the subject is performing. For example, in the sentence “John runs every morning,” the subject is “John” and the verb is “runs.”
When it comes to subject-verb agreement, the verb must match the subject in terms of number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular as well. For example, in the sentence “The dog barks at the mailman,” the subject “dog” is singular, so the verb “barks” is also singular.
On the other hand, if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well. For example, in the sentence “The dogs bark at the mailman,” the subject “dogs” is plural, so the verb “bark” is also plural.
Another aspect of subject-verb agreement is person. The verb must agree with the person of the subject, whether it is first person (I/we), second person (you), or third person (he/she/it/they). For example, in the sentence “I love to read books,” the subject “I” is first person, so the verb “love” must agree in first person as well.
Finally, subject-verb agreement also encompasses tense. This refers to the time frame in which the subject and verb are operating. For example, in the sentence “I am reading a book,” the subject “I” is present tense, so the verb “am reading” is also present tense.
Understanding subject-verb agreement may seem like a small detail, but it can greatly impact the clarity and effectiveness of your writing. By ensuring that your verb matches your subject in terms of number, person, and tense, you can create strong sentences that are easy to read and understand. So the next time you sit down to write, remember to keep subject-verb agreement in mind!