Number Agreement in English Grammar
Number agreement, also known as subject-verb agreement, is a grammatical rule that requires a verb to match its subject in number. This means that singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
Here's the basic breakdown:
Singular Subject + Singular Verb
* The dog barks loudly.
* She eats breakfast every morning.
* My friend is coming to visit.
Plural Subject + Plural Verb
* The dogs bark loudly.
* They eat breakfast every morning.
* My friends are coming to visit.
Important Points to Remember:
* Tricky Cases: While the concept seems simple, there are some tricky cases where choosing the correct verb form can be challenging.
* Collective Nouns: Words like *team, family, government* can be singular or plural depending on the context.
* Indefinite Pronouns: Pronouns like *everyone, someone, nobody* are always singular.
* Inverted Sentences: When the subject comes after the verb (like in questions), it's essential to identify the subject correctly.
* Focus on the Subject: It's crucial to determine the actual subject of the sentence, even if it's separated by other phrases or clauses.
* Watch Out for Intervening Phrases: Phrases like "along with," "as well as," "in addition to" do not change the subject's number.
Examples:
* The team is playing well. (Team is singular)
* The team members are working hard. (Team members are plural)
* Everyone is happy with the results. (Everyone is singular)
* Does the cat eat fish? (Cat is the subject)
Mastering number agreement is crucial for clear and grammatically correct writing. By understanding the rules and applying them consistently, you can improve your writing and communicate effectively.