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Verb Agreement in English Rules

As a copy editor, one of the most common grammar issues I come across in English writing is incorrect verb agreement. Verb agreement refers to the relationship between the subject of a sentence and the verb that follows it. In simple terms, the verb must agree with the subject in terms of number and person.

Number refers to whether the subject is singular or plural, while person refers to whether the subject is first person (I/we), second person (you), or third person (he/she/it/they). Understanding and applying these basic rules of verb agreement is crucial for clear and effective communication, especially in written content where SEO is a major factor in driving traffic to a website.

Here are some general rules for verb agreement in English:

1. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.

Example: The dog barks. (singular subject and verb) / The dogs bark. (plural subject and verb)

2. In a sentence with compound subjects joined by “and,” use a plural verb.

Example: The cat and the dog play together. (plural subject and verb)

3. If the subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” use a verb that agrees with the closer subject.

Example: Neither the cat nor the dog likes baths. (singular verb agrees with closer subject “dog”)

4. When the subject is a collective noun (referring to a group of individuals as a whole), use a singular or plural verb, depending on context.

Example: The team is practicing. (singular verb because the team is acting as a singular unit) / The team are arguing amongst themselves. (plural verb because the individuals are acting separately)

5. In sentences with indefinite pronouns (such as anyone, someone, everyone), use a singular verb.

Example: Everyone is invited to the party. (singular verb)

6. In sentences with the singular pronouns “each,” “every,” “either,” or “neither,” use a singular verb.

Example: Each of the cats has its own toy. (singular verb)

7. When using a singular noun that ends in “s,” treat it as a singular subject and use a singular verb.

Example: Mathematics is my worst subject. (singular verb)

8. In sentences that start with “there” followed by the verb, the verb agrees with the subject that follows it.

Example: There are two dogs in the park. (plural verb because “dogs” is the subject)

9. In questions, the verb agrees with the subject regardless of the order.

Example: Are the cats hiding under the bed? (plural verb because “cats” is the subject)

By following these basic rules, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. Keeping verb agreement in mind is particularly important for SEO purposes, as search engines rely heavily on the accuracy and relevance of written content when ranking web pages. With these rules in mind, you can optimize your writing for both human readers and search engines alike.