Grammatical agreement is a foundational concept in understanding the structure and function of sentences. At its core, grammatical agreement refers to the requirement that certain parts of a sentence—typically the subject and verb, but also other parts like the pronoun and verb or noun phrases within a sentence—must align in number, person, and sometimes gender to convey clear and coherent meaning. For beginners, grasping this concept is essential, and for more advanced users, it’s crucial for maintaining precision in writing and speaking.
When someone approaches a grammatical agreement problem, they often grapple with issues of coherence, clarity, and correctness. Many find that ensuring the correct alignment between parts of a sentence can be confusing, and errors in this area can lead to misunderstandings or miscommunications. To help you master grammatical agreement, this guide will offer a clear and structured approach that includes quick reference tips, detailed how-to sections, and frequently asked questions.
Understanding Grammatical Agreement: A Quick Reference Guide
Quick Reference
- Immediate action item: Check that the subject and verb agree in number. If the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb should match in plurality.
- Essential tip: To agree a verb with a compound subject (two or more nouns joined by 'and' or 'or'), consider if the subject taken together represents a singular or plural form and match the verb accordingly.
- Common mistake to avoid: Misalignment in number or person between subject and verb can often be due to confusion with intervening phrases. Always check the subject directly preceding the verb.
The Basics of Subject-Verb Agreement
The most fundamental aspect of grammatical agreement is between the subject and the verb. This ensures that actions are performed correctly with respect to the subject performing the action. Here's a breakdown:
Subject-verb agreement means that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number—that is, both must be either singular or plural. For instance:
- Singular Subject: The cat sits on the mat.
- Plural Subject: The cats sit on the mat.
When the subject is singular, the verb generally takes a singular form. When the subject is plural, the verb takes a plural form. This is straightforward in most cases but can become complicated with specific rules and exceptions.
To illustrate the concept more clearly, let’s break down the elements involved:
Step-by-Step Guidance for Subject-Verb Agreement
- Identify the Subject: Begin by pinpointing the subject of the sentence. This is typically a noun or pronoun performing the action described by the verb.
- Determine the Number and Person: Next, identify whether the subject is singular or plural and note its person. The person may not affect agreement in this case but is useful for more complex scenarios involving pronouns.
- Select the Appropriate Verb Form: Based on the subject’s number, choose the correct verb form. The majority of verbs in English follow a standard pattern, but some irregular verbs might need special attention.
- Check for Intervening Elements: Sometimes phrases or clauses can intervene between the subject and verb, complicating the agreement. Reconfirm that your verb matches the main subject directly before it.
Examples of incorrect and correct agreements:
- Incorrect: The list is on the table, but the items are misplaced.
- Correct: The list is on the table, and the items are misplaced.
Even though "items" is plural, "list" is singular and should agree with the verb "is."
Pronoun-Verb Agreement
Another crucial area where grammatical agreement plays a role is with pronouns and their corresponding verbs. Here again, the rules revolve around the number and sometimes gender, ensuring the pronoun aligns with the verb appropriately.
Pronouns can either be singular or plural. Singular pronouns like "he," "she," "it," and "one" pair with singular verbs. Plural pronouns like "they," "we," and "you" pair with plural verbs. Let’s explore some examples:
- Singular Pronoun: She writes every day.
- Plural Pronoun: They play soccer on weekends.
The key tip here is to always match the verb to the pronoun’s number.
Advanced users may also encounter complexities with pronouns referring to compound subjects, collective nouns, or even objects of prepositions. To address these:
Advanced Steps for Pronoun-Verb Agreement
- Identify the Pronoun: Locate the pronoun in the sentence.
- Determine the Number and Person: Confirm whether the pronoun is singular or plural.
- Match the Pronoun with the Verb: Select the verb form that matches the number of the pronoun. Singular pronouns take singular verbs; plural pronouns take plural verbs.
- Special Cases: For compound subjects connected by "and," treat as plural. For collective nouns (e.g., team, group), consider the context: singular if acting as one unit, plural if individuals are considered.
Consider this example:
- Incorrect: The team is ready to go to the match. They are packed and ready.
- Correct: The team is ready to go to the match. They are packed and ready.
Here, the team is considered a singular collective noun, so it takes a singular verb. However, "they" refers to the individuals within the team.
Practical FAQ
What is a common mistake in grammatical agreement?
A common mistake in grammatical agreement is failing to match the number of the subject with the form of the verb. For instance, confusing "The list of items is long" with "The list of items are long" because of the intervening phrase "of items." The subject “list” is singular and should take the singular verb "is."
How do you handle agreement with collective nouns?
With collective nouns (like team, family, or committee), the verb can be singular or plural depending on whether you view the group as a single unit or as individuals. If you treat the group as a single entity, use a singular verb. If you emphasize the individual members, use a plural verb. For example: "The committee has made a decision" (singular) versus "The committee are divided in their opinions" (plural).
Mastering grammatical agreement might seem daunting at first, but with consistent practice and attention to detail, it becomes second nature. Remember that correct alignment between subjects, pronouns, and verbs not only enhances your clarity but also reflects precision and competence in communication. By focusing on these guidelines and examples, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle any grammatical agreement challenges with confidence.