As a copy editor, it is crucial to understand that subject-verb agreement is one of the fundamental principles of grammar. This principle dictates that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
In subject-verb agreement, the subject of the sentence is considered the “doer” of the sentence, while the verb represents the “action” being performed. For example, in the sentence, “The dog barks loudly,” the subject is “dog,” and the verb is “barks.” The subject, “dog,” is singular, and the verb, “barks,” agrees with it in number.
When the subject and verb in a sentence do not agree, it creates confusion, making it challenging for the reader to understand the intended meaning of the sentence. For example, consider this sentence: “The group of students is going to the movies.” Here, the subject is “group,” which is singular, and the verb is “is,” which agrees with the subject in number.
However, when the sentence is rewritten as “The group of students are going to the movies,” it creates confusion because “group” is singular, while “students” is plural. The verb “are” does not agree with the subject “group,” resulting in incorrect subject-verb agreement.
In some cases, people tend to make errors in subject-verb agreement when the subject of the sentence is complicated or confusing. For instance, in the sentence, “The quality of the products have improved,” the subject is “quality,” which is singular. However, the verb used “have” is plural, which is incorrect. To correct the error, the sentence should be written as, “The quality of the products has improved,” with the verb “has” agreeing with the singular subject, “quality.”
In conclusion, as a professional, it is vital to understand the importance of subject-verb agreement. Proper subject-verb agreement ensures that the reader understands the intended meaning of the sentence, making the copy clear, concise, and easy to understand. Remember, the subject of the sentence must be the one to agree with the verb, and any errors in agreement should be corrected to maintain proper grammar.