Describe the common errors in subject-verb agreement.

Common errors in subject-verb agreement occur when the subject and verb in a sentence do not agree in terms of number (singular or plural). Some common errors include:

1. Singular subject with a plural verb: This happens when a singular subject is mistakenly paired with a plural verb. For example, "The dog chase the cats" should be "The dog chases the cats."

2. Plural subject with a singular verb: This error occurs when a plural subject is incorrectly matched with a singular verb. For instance, "The cats chases the mouse" should be "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 "Everyone was happy."

4. Collective nouns: Collective nouns, like "team," "family," or "group," can be singular or plural depending on the context. When they are considered as a single unit, they take a singular verb. 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 take a plural verb. For example, "John and Sarah are going to the party." However, if the subjects are considered as a single unit, a singular verb is used. For instance, "Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast."

6. Intervening phrases: Phrases that come between the subject and verb can sometimes confuse the agreement. It is important to identify the true subject and ensure the verb agrees with it. For example, "The book, along with the pen, were on the table" should be "The book, along with the pen, was on the table."

7. Agreement with indefinite articles: When using indefinite articles like "a" or "an," the verb should agree with the noun that follows. For instance, "A group of students were studying" should be "A group of students was studying."

It is crucial to pay attention to subject-verb agreement to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity in writing.