Common Errors Questions Medium
Subject-verb agreement errors occur when the subject and verb in a sentence do not agree in terms of number (singular or plural). Some common errors in subject-verb agreement include:
1. Singular subject with a plural verb: This error occurs when a singular subject is incorrectly paired with a plural verb. For example, "The dog's barks loudly" should be corrected to "The dog barks loudly."
2. Plural subject with a singular verb: This error happens when a plural subject is incorrectly paired with a singular verb. For instance, "The cats chases the mouse" should be corrected to "The cats chase the mouse."
3. Indefinite pronouns: Indefinite pronouns, such as "everyone," "someone," or "nobody," are singular and should be paired with singular verbs. For example, "Everyone were happy" should be corrected to "Everyone was happy."
4. Collective nouns: Collective nouns, like "team," "family," or "group," can be singular or plural depending on the context. When referring to the group as a whole, a singular verb should be used. For instance, "The team is practicing" is correct, while "The team are practicing" is incorrect.
5. Compound subjects: When two or more subjects are joined by "and," they usually form a plural subject and require a plural verb. For example, "John and Sarah is going to the party" should be corrected to "John and Sarah are going to the party."
6. Intervening phrases: Sometimes, phrases or clauses can separate the subject from the verb, leading to errors. It is important to ensure that the verb agrees with the subject, regardless of any intervening words. For instance, "The book, along with the pen, were on the table" should be corrected to "The book, along with the pen, was on the table."
To avoid subject-verb agreement errors, it is crucial to identify the subject and verb in a sentence and ensure they agree in terms of number.