Exercise in Subject Verb Agreement: Tips for Effective Writing
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental concept in English grammar that refers to the proper agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. It is important to master this concept, especially for writers, because errors in subject-verb agreement can make your writing sound awkward and unprofessional. In this article, we will provide some exercises to help you improve your skills in subject-verb agreement.
Exercise 1: Identify the Subject and Verb Pair
In this exercise, you will need to identify the subject and verb pair in a sentence. Once you have identified the pair, you can determine whether they are in agreement or not. For example:
– The dog barks loudly at the mailman.
– The subject is “dog” and the verb is “barks”. They are in agreement because “dog” is a singular noun and “barks” is a singular verb.
– The cats meow every morning.
– The subject is “cats” and the verb is “meow”. They are in agreement because “cats” is a plural noun and “meow” is a plural verb.
Exercise 2: Correct the Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
In this exercise, you will need to correct the subject-verb agreement errors in a sentence. Read the sentence carefully and determine whether the subject and verb are in agreement or not. If they are not in agreement, correct the error. For example:
– The group of students was excited to go on the field trip.
– The subject is “group” and the verb is “was”. They are not in agreement because “group” is a singular noun and “was” is a singular verb. The correct sentence should be: “The group of students were excited to go on the field trip.”
– Each of the boys have a pet dog.
– The subject is “each” and the verb is “have”. They are not in agreement because “each” is a singular pronoun and “have” is a plural verb. The correct sentence should be: “Each of the boys has a pet dog.”
Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Verb
In this exercise, you will need to choose the correct verb that agrees with the subject in a sentence. Read the sentence carefully and determine whether the subject is singular or plural. Then, choose the correct verb that matches the subject. For example:
– The teacher and the students _________ hard for the upcoming exam.
– The subject is “teacher and students” and they are plural. The correct verb should be “work”. The correct sentence should be: “The teacher and the students work hard for the upcoming exam.”
– The book on the table ________ interesting.
– The subject is “book” and it is singular. The correct verb should be “is”. The correct sentence should be: “The book on the table is interesting.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential skill for effective writing. By practicing the exercises mentioned above, you can improve your skills in subject-verb agreement and avoid common errors in your writing. Remember that proper subject-verb agreement can make a significant difference in the clarity and professionalism of your writing.