Subject-verb and noun-pronoun agreement are important grammatical rules that are often overlooked but can greatly impact the clarity and professionalism of your writing. In this article, we will discuss these two agreement rules and the common mistakes that writers make.

Subject-verb agreement

Subject-verb agreement simply means that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. For example, if the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb must also be singular. Likewise, if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. Let`s take a look at some examples:

– Incorrect: The cat chase the mouse.

– Correct: The cat chases the mouse.

In the above example, “cat” is singular, so we need to use the singular form of the verb “chase,” which is “chases.”

– Incorrect: The dogs barks loudly in the park.

– Correct: The dogs bark loudly in the park.

In this example, “dogs” is plural, so we need to use the plural form of the verb “bark.”

One common mistake that writers make is when the sentence contains a subject that is made up of two or more nouns connected by “and.” In these cases, the subject is plural, and we must use a plural verb. For example:

– Incorrect: Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.

– Correct: Peanut butter and jelly are my favorite sandwich.

In this case, “peanut butter” and “jelly” are two separate nouns joined by “and,” so the subject is plural and we need to use the plural form of the verb “are.”

Noun-pronoun agreement

Noun-pronoun agreement simply means that the pronoun we use must agree in number and gender with the noun it replaces. For example:

– Incorrect: The doctor said she would be back soon, but he never returned.

– Correct: The doctor said she would be back soon, but she never returned.

In the above example, we have two different pronouns referring to the same noun, “doctor.” We need to use the same pronoun throughout the sentence to maintain agreement.

One common mistake that writers make is when they use a singular pronoun to refer to a plural noun or vice versa. This can lead to confusion and ambiguity. For example:

– Incorrect: The team said they were ready to play, but it wasn`t until it got on the field that she realized they weren`t prepared.

– Correct: The team said they were ready to play, but it wasn`t until they got on the field that she realized they weren`t prepared.

In the above example, we have a plural noun, “team,” but we mistakenly use a singular pronoun, “she,” to refer to it. We need to use a plural pronoun, “they,” to maintain agreement.

Conclusion

Subject-verb and noun-pronoun agreement are important grammatical rules that are essential to ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing. Remember to always check for agreement to avoid common mistakes and confusion. By implementing these rules, you`ll be able to create clear and effective writing that communicates your message with precision and accuracy.