Subject Verb Agreement Compound Subjects

Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects: Tips for Clear and Correct Writing

As a copy editor, one of the key skills you need to have is the ability to spot and correct errors in subject-verb agreement. This is essential for writing that is clear, concise and grammatically correct. Compound subjects can make this task more complex, as they can involve multiple nouns or pronouns that interact in different ways with the verb. In this article, we’ll explore some tips for ensuring correct subject-verb agreement with compound subjects and help you improve your writing skills.

What is a compound subject?

A compound subject is a subject that has two or more nouns or pronouns that are joined together by a conjunction (such as “and”, “or”, or “nor”). For example, “John and Mary” is a compound subject, as is “the cake, the cookies, and the ice cream”.

How to ensure correct subject-verb agreement with compound subjects?

1. Identify the subject and the verb

The first step in ensuring correct subject-verb agreement is to identify the subject and the verb in the sentence. The subject is the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about, while the verb is the action that the subject is performing.

For example, in the sentence “John and Mary are going to the park”, the subject is “John and Mary” and the verb is “are going”.

2. Determine the number of the subject

Once you have identified the subject, the next step is to determine whether it is singular or plural. This will determine the form of the verb that you need to use.

For example, in the sentence above, “John and Mary” is a plural subject, so the verb “are” is the correct form to use.

3. Use the correct verb form

Once you have determined the number of the subject, you can use the appropriate verb form. If the subject is singular, use a singular verb. If the subject is plural, use a plural verb.

For example, in the sentence “The cake, the cookies, and the ice cream is delicious”, the subject is a compound one, but it is singular. Therefore, the correct form of the verb is “is”.

4. Be careful with indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone” or “someone”, can also present challenges for subject-verb agreement. These words can be either singular or plural, depending on the context.

For example, the sentence “Everyone in the class is excited about the trip” uses a singular verb because “everyone” is singular, while the sentence “Somebody left their umbrella on the bus” uses a plural verb because “somebody” is singular, but the pronoun “their” is plural.

5. Use linking verbs properly

Linking verbs, such as “am”, “is”, “are”, “was”, “were”, “appear”, or “seem”, require different forms of subject-verb agreement than action verbs. In sentences that use linking verbs, the verb agrees in number with the subject, not with the predicate noun or adjective.

For example, in the sentence “The movie was the best of the year”, the subject is “movie”, which is singular, so the linking verb “was” is also singular.

Conclusion

Correct subject-verb agreement is essential for clear and effective writing. When working with compound subjects, it is important to identify the subject, determine its number, and use the correct verb form. By following these guidelines, you can avoid common grammatical errors and improve your writing skills.