Subject-Verb Agreement Rules for College Writing

📚 What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement simply means that the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. In other words, a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. This is crucial for clear and grammatically correct writing, especially in academic settings.

📜 A Brief History of Subject-Verb Agreement

The concept of subject-verb agreement has roots in the historical development of the English language. Originally, English had more complex verb conjugations that clearly indicated number and person. Over time, these conjugations simplified, making subject-verb agreement a more prominent feature for maintaining clarity. The rules we follow today are largely a product of centuries of linguistic evolution and standardization efforts by grammarians.

🔑 Key Principles of Subject-Verb Agreement

• 👤 Singular Subjects, Singular Verbs:
• 🔍 The dog barks.
• 👥 Plural Subjects, Plural Verbs:
• 🐾 The dogs bark.
• 🤝 Compound Subjects: Subjects joined by "and" usually take a plural verb.
• 🍎 Apples and oranges are delicious.
• 🤔 Exceptions with "or"/"nor": When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
• 👩‍🏫 Either the teacher or the students are responsible.
• 🏢 Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., team, committee, family) can be singular or plural, depending on whether they act as a unit or as individual members.
• 👪 The family is eating dinner (acting as a unit).
• ⛹️ The team are arguing (acting as individuals).
• ❓ Indefinite Pronouns: Indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone, nobody) can be tricky. Some are always singular (e.g., each, everyone), while others can be singular or plural depending on context (e.g., some, all).
• 🙋‍♀️ Everyone is ready.
• 📊 Some of the pie is gone (singular).
• 🍕 Some of the slices are gone (plural).
• 📐 Sentences Starting with "There" or "Here": In sentences starting with "there" or "here," the subject follows the verb.
• 🌲 There are many trees.
• 📍 Here is the book.

✍️ Real-World Examples in College Writing

Let's look at some examples that commonly occur in college-level writing:

• 🧪 Incorrect: The data is inconclusive.
• ✅ Correct: The data are inconclusive (data is plural).
• 📜 Incorrect: Each of the students have completed the assignment.
• ✅ Correct: Each of the students has completed the assignment (each is singular).
• 🌍 Incorrect: Economics are an interesting subject.
• ✅ Correct: Economics is an interesting subject (economics is singular when referring to the field of study).

💡 Tips for Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement

• 🔎 Identify the Subject: Always find the true subject of the sentence, ignoring any intervening phrases or clauses.
• 📝 Simplify the Sentence: Mentally remove any extra information to isolate the subject and verb.
• 🗣️ Read Aloud: Sometimes, reading the sentence aloud can help you hear if the subject and verb agree.
• ✍️ Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to mastering subject-verb agreement.

✅ Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement is essential for clear, effective communication in college writing. By understanding the basic principles and practicing regularly, you can avoid common errors and improve the overall quality of your writing. Remember to identify the true subject, pay attention to collective nouns and indefinite pronouns, and be mindful of sentences starting with "there" or "here." With these tips, you'll be well on your way to acing your essays!