Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of English grammar and can make all the difference in conveying ideas clearly to readers. As a copy editor with experience in search engine optimization (SEO), I understand the importance of creating content that is both grammatically correct and optimized for search engines. In this article, I will discuss the best practices for subject-verb agreement and how you can apply them to your writing to create high-quality content that ranks well in search results.
First and foremost, it is important to remember that the subject and verb must agree in number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular as well, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. For example, “The boy runs” uses a singular verb because the subject, “boy,” is singular, while “The boys run” uses a plural verb because the subject, “boys,” is plural.
One important rule to keep in mind is that collective nouns, such as “team” or “family,” can take either a singular or plural verb depending on the context. For example, “The team is practicing” uses a singular verb because the team is acting as a single unit, while “The team are arguing with each other” uses a plural verb because the team members are separate individuals with their own opinions.
Another rule to follow is to pay attention to compound subjects, which are two or more nouns or pronouns joined by “and.” When the compound subject refers to individuals acting separately, use a plural verb. For example, “The cat and the dog are playing” uses a plural verb because the cat and dog are two separate animals. However, when the compound subject refers to a single unit, use a singular verb. For example, “Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich” uses a singular verb because peanut butter and jelly are combined to make a single sandwich.
It is also important to be aware of subject-verb agreement in sentences with intervening phrases or clauses. When there is a long or complicated sentence, it is easy to lose track of the subject and verb. However, the subject and verb must still agree in number even if there are intervening phrases or clauses. For example, “The car, along with its passengers, is on its way to the destination” uses a singular verb because “car” is the subject, even though there is a prepositional phrase “along with its passengers” between the subject and verb.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of English grammar that can make or break your writing. Following the rules for subject-verb agreement will not only help you convey your ideas clearly to readers, but also help your content rank higher in search results. Remember to always make sure the subject and verb agree in number, even in complex sentences or with collective or compound subjects. By keeping these rules in mind, you can create high-quality content that is both grammatically correct and optimized for SEO.
