1. Subject-Verb Agreement
* The Basics: A verb must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject.
* Singular subject: Takes a singular verb. (Example: *The dog barks.*)
* Plural subject: Takes a plural verb. (Example: *The dogs bark.*)
* Challenges: Things that can make agreement tricky:
* Intervening phrases: Ignore these when determining agreement. (Example: *The dog, along with its puppies, is sleeping.*)
* Collective nouns: Words like *team,* *group,* *committee* can be singular or plural depending on the meaning. (Example: *The team is practicing.* vs. *The team are arguing about strategy.*)
* Indefinite pronouns: Words like *everyone,* *someone,* *each* are always singular. (Example: *Everyone has a different opinion.*)
* Inverted sentences: The verb comes before the subject. (Example: *There are three cats in the yard.*)
2. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
* The Basics: A pronoun must agree in number and gender with its antecedent (the noun it refers to).
* Number: Singular pronoun for a singular antecedent; plural pronoun for a plural antecedent. (Example: *The cat licked its paw.* vs. *The cats licked their paws.*)
* Gender: Use a masculine, feminine, or gender-neutral pronoun based on the antecedent. (Example: *The boy lost his hat.* vs. *The girl lost her hat.*)
* Challenges:
* Collective nouns: The pronoun's number depends on whether the collective noun acts as a singular unit or as individual members. (Example: *The team played its best game.* vs. *The team argued among themselves about the strategy.*)
* Indefinite pronouns: Pronouns like *everyone,* *anyone,* *no one* are singular. (Example: *Everyone has their own opinion.*)
Key Points to Remember:
* Pay attention to the subject and antecedent. Don't get distracted by intervening phrases or other words.
* Be mindful of collective nouns and indefinite pronouns. These can be tricky, so be sure to use the correct number and gender.
* Read your work carefully. Check for agreement errors, especially when you're dealing with complex sentences or unusual constructions.
Example:
* Incorrect: *The team was tired, but they played well.*
* Correct: *The team was tired, but it played well.* (The pronoun "it" agrees with the singular collective noun "team" because it's acting as a unit.)
By understanding and applying these rules, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically sound and easy to understand.