Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of language that can make or break the clarity and comprehensibility of a sentence. In the English language, the subject and verb of a sentence must agree in both number and person. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. In this article, we will explore some examples of subject-verb agreement to help you understand this concept more clearly.

Example 1: Singular Subject and Singular Verb

The dog barks.

In this example, the subject (dog) is singular, and the verb (barks) is also singular. This sentence follows the basic rule of subject-verb agreement when the subject is singular.

Example 2: Plural Subject and Plural Verb

The dogs bark.

In this example, the subject (dogs) is plural, and the verb (bark) is also plural. This sentence follows the basic rule of subject-verb agreement when the subject is plural.

Example 3: Singular Subject, Plural Noun Phrase, and Singular Verb

The girl, along with her friends, walks to the park.

In this example, the subject (girl) is singular, but the noun phrase (her friends) is plural. However, the verb (walks) is singular, as it agrees with the singular subject. The phrase “along with” does not affect the subject-verb agreement.

Example 4: Plural Subject, Singular Noun Phrase, and Plural Verb

The dogs, along with their toys, play in the backyard.

In this example, the subject (dogs) is plural, but the noun phrase (their toys) is singular. However, the verb (play) is plural, as it agrees with the plural subject. The phrase “along with” does not affect the subject-verb agreement.

Example 5: Compound Subject and Singular Verb

The cat and the dog lives in the same house.

In this example, the subject (cat and dog) is a compound subject, which means it is made up of more than one noun or pronoun. However, the verb (lives) is singular, which makes the sentence grammatically incorrect. To correct the sentence, the verb must be plural to agree with the compound subject. The correct sentence should read: The cat and the dog live in the same house.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of English grammar that should not be overlooked. By following the simple rule of making the verb agree with the subject in both number and person, you can ensure that your sentences are clear, concise and grammatically correct. By reviewing these examples, you can better understand how subject-verb agreement works and apply it to your writing to improve its quality.