Put Agreement in Sentences

As a copy editor, it is essential to ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and makes sense to your audience. One of the critical components to achieve this goal is to use proper punctuation and sentence structure, which includes properly placing agreement in sentences.

Agreement in sentences refers to the proper matching of subject and verb in terms of person and number. This proper agreement ensures that the sentences are clear and concise and can be easily understood by the reader.

One of the primary rules for putting agreement in sentences is to remember that the subject and verb must agree in number. For instance, if the subject is singular, then the verb must also be singular. Similarly, if the subject is plural, then the verb must also be plural.

For example, consider the following sentences:

Incorrect: The team are ready for the game.

Correct: The team is ready for the game.

In this case, the subject is `team,` which is singular, and the verb must also be singular, which is `is.`

Another important aspect to consider is the use of compound subjects. When two or more subjects are joined by `and,` they are considered as plural, and hence the verb must also be plural.

For example:

Incorrect: The dog and the cat is playing in the garden.

Correct: The dog and the cat are playing in the garden.

In this case, `dog and cat` is a compound subject, and hence the verb `are` must be used to match the plural subject.

It is also essential to remember that the agreement between subject and verb is not affected by words or phrases that come between them. The verb must always agree with the subject, regardless of any intervening words.

For example:

Incorrect: The book, as well as the movie, was great.

Correct: The book, as well as the movie, were great.

In this case, the subject is `book` and `movie,` which is plural, and hence the verb `were` must be used.

In conclusion, proper agreement in sentences is crucial for clear and effective communication. By following the rules of agreement, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and easily understood by your audience.