Subject-verb agreement is one of the most important aspects of writing. When it comes to writing, making sure the subject and verb agree is crucial to maintain clarity and comprehension. The subject and verb must match in both number and person in a sentence to avoid confusion. Here are the 5 basic rules in subject-verb agreement to help you write with precision and accuracy.

1. Singular subject takes singular verb

When a sentence has a singular subject, it should take a singular verb. For instance, “The boy plays football” is correct, while “The boy play football” is incorrect as it has a plural verb.

2. Plural subject takes a plural verb

Similarly, a plural subject should take a plural verb. For example, “The boys play football” is correct, while “The boys plays football” is incorrect.

3. Singular subject and plural subject

When a sentence has both a singular and a plural subject, the verb should agree with the closest noun. For example, “My father and I go to the park” is correct, while “My father and I goes to the park” is wrong as it has a singular verb.

4. Indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns such as all, each, everybody, anyone, anything, etc. are singular, so they take a singular verb. For instance, “Everyone is here” is correct, while “Everyone are here” is incorrect.

5. Compound subject

When a sentence has a compound subject, the verb should match the number of the subject nearest to it. For example, “Apples and pears are my favorite fruits” is correct, while “Apples and pears are my favorite fruit” is incorrect.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is vital in making sure that your writing is clear and concise. By following these five basic rules, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and easy to understand. Remember, it is not just about what you are writing, but how you write it that matters. Proper subject-verb agreement can make all the difference in creating effective and professional writing.