Subject-verb agreement is a critical aspect of the English language. It refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. The subject refers to the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about, while the verb refers to the action that the subject is performing. Unfortunately, many writers make common subject-verb agreement errors that can detract from the overall clarity and credibility of their writing. Here are some of the most common subject-verb agreement errors and how to avoid them.

1. Errors with plural and singular subjects

One of the most common subject-verb agreement errors is confusing plural and singular subjects. For example, a writer might write: “The team of doctors are working hard to save lives.” In this sentence, “team” is a singular subject, but the verb “are” is plural. The correct verb to use in this sentence is “is,” as in: “The team of doctors is working hard to save lives.”

2. Errors with collective nouns

Collective nouns are nouns that refer to a group of people or things, such as “family,” “team,” or “audience.” Many writers make the mistake of treating collective nouns as plural subjects, even though they are singular. For example, a writer might write: “The audience were clapping and shouting.” In this sentence, “audience” is a collective noun, but the verb “were” is plural. The correct verb to use in this sentence is “was,” as in: “The audience was clapping and shouting.”

3. Errors with compound subjects

Compound subjects are subjects that are composed of two or more nouns or pronouns joined by “and.” Many writers make the mistake of treating compound subjects as singular, even though they are plural. For example, a writer might write: “My sister and my mother loves to read books.” In this sentence, “sister” and “mother” are both separate subjects, but the verb “loves” is singular. The correct verb to use in this sentence is “love,” as in: “My sister and my mother love to read books.”

4. Errors with indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not refer to a specific person or thing, such as “somebody,” “everybody,” or “anyone.” Many writers make the mistake of treating indefinite pronouns as plural, even though they are singular. For example, a writer might write: “Everyone are entitled to their own opinions.” In this sentence, “everyone” is an indefinite pronoun, but the verb “are” is plural. The correct verb to use in this sentence is “is,” as in: “Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.”

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement errors are common mistakes that many writers make. However, by understanding these errors and how to avoid them, you can improve the clarity and credibility of your writing. Remember to pay attention to the number of your subjects, whether they are singular or plural, and use the correct verb form accordingly. With practice, you`ll be able to master subject-verb agreement and produce well-written and error-free content.