Common Mistakes Students Make with Subject-Verb Agreement in Argumentative Essays

📚 Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement simply means that the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. This sounds simple, but several common errors can trip students up, especially in argumentative essays where complex sentence structures are common.

📜 A Brief History

The rules of subject-verb agreement have evolved over centuries, solidifying during the standardization of English grammar. Early English had more complex verb conjugations, but over time, the language simplified, making subject-verb agreement a key marker of grammatical correctness.

🔑 Key Principles

• 🔍 Identifying the Subject: The first step is always to correctly identify the subject of the sentence. This can be tricky when there are prepositional phrases or clauses separating the subject and the verb.
• 🍎 Singular vs. Plural: Determine whether the subject is singular or plural. Nouns ending in '-s' are usually plural, but there are exceptions (e.g., 'news'). Collective nouns (e.g., 'team', 'committee') can be singular or plural depending on whether they are acting as a unit or as individual members.
• 🧩 Compound Subjects: Subjects joined by 'and' are usually plural. However, if the parts of the subject refer to a single thing or person, the subject is singular (e.g., 'Mac and cheese is...'). Subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor' take a verb that agrees with the subject closest to the verb.
• ❓ Indefinite Pronouns: Indefinite pronouns such as 'each', 'every', 'everyone', 'someone', 'anyone', 'nobody', and 'no one' are always singular. Pronouns such as 'several', 'few', 'both', and 'many' are always plural. Some indefinite pronouns (e.g., 'all', 'some', 'none', 'any', 'more', 'most') can be singular or plural depending on what they refer to.
• 📝 Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (group, team, committee, family, etc.) can be tricky. If the group acts as a single unit, use a singular verb. If the members act individually, use a plural verb. Example: "The team is playing well." (singular unit) vs. "The team are arguing about the strategy." (individual members).
• 🌍 There and Here: When a sentence begins with "there" or "here," the subject follows the verb. Example: "There are many reasons..." (reasons is plural) vs. "Here is the solution..." (solution is singular).
• 💡 Phrases Between Subject and Verb: Pay close attention to phrases and clauses that come between the subject and the verb. These phrases do not affect subject-verb agreement. Example: "The quality of the essays is improving." (quality is the subject, not essays).

Examples and Corrections

Let's look at some common errors and how to correct them:

✅ Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear and effective writing, especially in argumentative essays. By understanding the key principles and practicing identifying and correcting errors, students can significantly improve their grammar and writing skills.