To Be Subject Verb Agreement

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As a copy editor, one of the most common issues I encounter in writing is the problem of subject-verb agreement. This is particularly important for writers who are creating content for the web, where search engine optimization (SEO) is a critical factor in driving traffic to a website.

So what exactly is subject-verb agreement? Simply put, it means that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number. For example, a singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb. Here are a few examples:

– Singular subject: The dog barks. (Not “The dog bark.”)

– Plural subject: The dogs bark. (Not “The dogs barks.”)

This may seem like a small detail, but it can have a big impact on the clarity and professionalism of your writing. Here are a few tips for getting it right:

1. Identify the subject and verb in each sentence.

Before you can ensure that they agree in number, you need to know what they are! The subject is typically the noun or pronoun that performs the action in the sentence, while the verb is the action itself.

2. Pay attention to the number of the subject.

Is the subject singular or plural? This will determine whether you need a singular or plural verb. Remember, even if the subject is a collective noun (such as “team” or “family”), it can be either singular or plural depending on the context.

3. Watch out for tricky constructions.

Sometimes, sentences can be a bit more complicated than a simple subject-verb pair. For example, a verb might be separated from its subject by a phrase or clause. Make sure you still match the verb to the subject, even if they`re not right next to each other.

4. Double-check your work.

Once you`ve gone through your writing and made sure that every subject and verb agree, take a moment to read it over again. This will help you catch any errors you might have missed the first time around.

In addition to improving the overall professionalism of your writing, proper subject-verb agreement can also help with SEO. Search engines like Google look for content that is well-written and easy to understand, and proper grammar is a key part of that. By paying attention to subject-verb agreement, you can help ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and professional.