As a professional, I have come across many writing mistakes that can negatively impact the readability and search engine optimization of a piece. One of the most common errors I see is the lack of agreement between verbs and subjects. In this article, we will discuss the basics of subject-verb agreement, specifically for Class 7 students.
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means that the verb in a sentence should match the subject in terms of number and person. This means that if the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb should also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural. Additionally, the verb should match the person of the subject (first person, second person, or third person).
Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement
Singular Subject:
Correct: The dog barks.
Incorrect: The dog bark.
Plural Subject:
Correct: The dogs bark.
Incorrect: The dogs barks.
Third Person Subject:
Correct: John plays football.
Incorrect: John play football.
How to Identify the Subject?
Before we can determine the correct verb to use in a sentence, we must first identify the subject. The subject is the noun or pronoun in a sentence that performs the action of the verb. For example, in the sentence “The cat jumped on the table,” the subject is “cat” because it is the noun performing the action of jumping.
Tricks for Subject-Verb Agreement
Here are a few tricks to help you ensure subject-verb agreement:
1. Pay attention to the subject`s number and person. If the subject is singular, the verb should be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. If the subject is in the third person, the verb should match the person (i.e., “he runs,” “they run”).
2. Ignore words that come between the subject and verb. When there are words or phrases between the subject and verb, it can be easy to forget about subject-verb agreement. However, it is essential to remember that the subject and verb should still agree even with words or phrases in between.
3. If the subject is compound (i.e., two or more nouns or pronouns connected by “and”), use a plural verb. For example, “John and Mary are going to the party.”
Conclusion
Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of writing that can affect the readability and SEO of a piece. By paying attention to the number and person of the subject and using the tricks mentioned above, Class 7 students can ensure that their writing demonstrates proper subject-verb agreement.
