When it comes to writing, one of the most important aspects is ensuring that your sentences are grammatically correct and make sense. An essential component of this is using the correct agreement in your sentences.
Agreement refers to the way that words in a sentence work together to indicate whether they are singular or plural. Proper agreement is essential because it ensures clarity and helps us understand the meaning of a sentence.
Here are some tips on how to use agreement correctly in sentences:
Subject-Verb Agreement
The most common agreement mistake occurs between the subject and verb in a sentence. In English, verbs must agree with their subject in number. This means that if the subject of the sentence is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.
For example:
– Incorrect: The cat on the mat are sleeping.
– Correct: The cat on the mat is sleeping.
The subject of the sentence is “cat,” which is singular, so the verb “is” must also be singular.
Noun-Adjective Agreement
Noun-adjective agreement follows similar rules to subject-verb agreement. Adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify, meaning they must match in number and gender.
For example:
– Incorrect: She wore a blue shoes to the party.
– Correct: She wore blue shoes to the party.
In this sentence, “shoes” is plural, so the adjective “blue” must also be plural.
Pronoun Agreement
Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns in a sentence. Pronouns must agree with the nouns they replace in terms of gender and number.
For example:
– Incorrect: Everyone has their own problems.
– Correct: Everyone has their own problem.
“Everyone” is singular, so the pronoun replacing it, “their,” must also be singular.
Collective Noun Agreement
A collective noun refers to a group of people or things. Collective nouns can be singular or plural, depending on context. If the group is acting as a single entity, it takes a singular verb. If the group is acting as individuals, it takes a plural verb.
For example:
– Incorrect: The team are playing well today.
– Correct: The team is playing well today.
In this sentence, “team” is acting as a single entity, so it takes a singular verb.
Agreement is foundational to clear, effective communication. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct and easy to understand.