Sentence agreement, also known as subject-verb agreement, is one of the most important concepts in English grammar. It involves ensuring that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number and person. This means that 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 sentence agreement examples to help you better understand this concept:
1. Singular Subject and Singular Verb:
– The cat meows loudly.
In this sentence, “cat” is a singular subject, and “meows” is a singular verb. The subject and verb agree in number and person.
2. Plural Subject and Plural Verb:
– The dogs bark loudly.
In this sentence, “dogs” is a plural subject, and “bark” is a plural verb. The subject and verb agree in number and person.
3. Singular Subject and Plural Verb:
– The cat and the dogs run in the park.
In this sentence, “cat” is a singular subject, and “dogs” is a plural subject. The verb “run” is plural to match the number of the subject.
4. Indefinite Pronoun and Singular Verb:
– Each student has his or her own book.
In this sentence, “each” is an indefinite pronoun that refers to multiple students. However, “has” is a singular verb because it agrees with the singular pronoun “each.”
5. Collective Noun and Singular or Plural Verb:
– The team is practicing for the game.
In this sentence, “team” is a collective noun that refers to a group of people. The verb “is practicing” is singular to match the collective noun.
– The team are arguing about their strategies.
In this sentence, “team” is still a collective noun, but the verb “are arguing” is plural to match the plural pronoun “their.”
6. Compound Subject and Singular or Plural Verb:
– Bread and butter is a common breakfast food.
In this sentence, “bread” and “butter” are both singular subjects, so the verb “is” is also singular.
– The cat and the dog chase birds in the backyard.
In this sentence, “cat” and “dog” are both singular subjects, but the verb “chase” is plural to match the compound subject.
Sentence agreement is crucial in writing because it makes your sentences clear and easy to understand. It helps readers follow along smoothly and prevents confusion. By paying attention to subject-verb agreement, you can improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.