As a copy editor, it`s essential to have a firm grasp on the rules of subject-verb agreement. Proper agreement ensures that your writing is clear and easy to understand, which is particularly important in the world of search engine optimization (SEO). In this article, we`ll explore which sentences have agreement between the subject and the verb.
To begin, let`s establish what subject-verb agreement is. Simply put, it`s the matching of the subject of a sentence with the correct verb form. This agreement is crucial to ensure that your sentence makes sense and conveys your intended meaning.
So, how can you tell if there is agreement between the subject and verb in a sentence? There are a few key indicators to look out for. First, the subject and verb should both be in the same tense. For example, if the subject is in the past tense, the verb should also be in the past tense.
Secondly, the number of the subject (singular or plural) should match the number of the verb. For example, if the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular. Similarly, if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural as well.
With these rules in mind, let`s examine a few example sentences:
1. The dog barks at the mailman.
This sentence is correct, as the subject (dog) is singular and the verb (barks) is also singular.
2. The cats meows at the birds.
This sentence is incorrect, as the subject (cats) is plural, but the verb (meows) is singular. It should be „the cats meow at the birds“ to reflect plural subject-verb agreement.
3. She run every morning.
This sentence is incorrect, as the subject (she) is singular, but the verb (run) is plural. It should be „she runs every morning“ to reflect singular subject-verb agreement.
4. They was late for the movie.
This sentence is incorrect, as the subject (they) is plural, but the verb (was) is singular. It should be „they were late for the movie“ to reflect plural subject-verb agreement.
By ensuring that your writing has proper subject-verb agreement, you can improve readability and clarity for your audience. Additionally, search engines may prioritize well-written content in their rankings, making proper agreement a key aspect of SEO.
In conclusion, keeping subject-verb agreement in mind is an important aspect of copy editing for SEO. Although it can seem complex at first, following basic rules such as matching tense and number will ensure that your writing is clear and easy to understand.
