Verb and Agreement Rules

As a copy editor, one of the most important rules to understand is verb and agreement rules. These rules dictate how the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number and tense. When followed correctly, these rules can greatly enhance the clarity and professionalism of your writing.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement refers to the agreement between the subject of a sentence and the verb. In essence, the verb must match the subject in both number (singular or plural) and tense (past, present, or future).

For example, consider the sentence “The dog barks.” The subject, “dog,” is singular, and the verb, “barks,” is in the present tense and matches the singular subject. In contrast, if the sentence were “The dogs bark,” the subject is now plural, so the verb must be “bark” to match the plural subject.

It is crucial to maintain subject-verb agreement throughout a sentence to avoid confusion and grammatical errors. Even minor mistakes, like using the incorrect form of “be” or “have,” can diminish the professionalism of your writing.

Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects

When a sentence has a compound subject, meaning there are two or more subjects, the verb must match the number and person of the subject closest to it. For example, in the sentence “Mary and John are going to the store,” the subject is a compound subject made up of “Mary” and “John,” which is plural. Therefore, the verb is “are” to match the plural subject.

In another example, “My friend or I am going to the party,” the subject is a compound subject consisting of “My friend” and “I”. Since “I” is singular, the verb should be in the singular form, which is “am”.

Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone,” “anybody,” and “none,” can be confusing when it comes to subject-verb agreement. Generally, we treat indefinite pronouns as singular, so the verb should be in the singular form.

For example, the sentence “Everyone is going to the party” is correct because “everyone” is singular, and the verb “is” matches the subject. Similarly, the sentence “None of the students are going to the party” is incorrect because “none” is singular, and the verb “are” should be changed to “is” to match the subject.

In conclusion, understanding verb and agreement rules is essential for any writer. By practicing subject-verb agreement with different types of subjects, you can improve the readability and professional quality of your writing. Remember, even minor mistakes can have a significant impact on your writing, so take the time to perfect these rules for the best results.