Subject verb agreement is a crucial aspect of grammar that can make or break the clarity of your writing. Even the smallest error can confuse readers and detract from your credibility as a writer. One common area where subject verb agreement can be tricky is when dealing with collective nouns like “mine.”
Collective nouns are words that refer to groups of people or things. Examples of collective nouns include “team,” “group,” “audience,” and “class.” These nouns are treated as singular and require a singular verb agreement in formal writing. For example, “The team is ready to play.”
However, “mine” can be a tricky collective noun. This is because “mine” is not typically thought of as a collective noun like “team” or “group.” While “mine” may refer to a group of people working in a mine or a group of resources being extracted, it is most commonly thought of as a possessive pronoun meaning “belonging to me.”
In the case of “mine” as a collective noun, it is often used to refer to a specific mine or mining operation. For example, “The mine employs over 500 workers.” In this case, “mine” is a singular collective noun and requires singular verb agreement. However, if you were referring to multiple mines, the noun would be plural, and the verb agreement would need to be adjusted accordingly. For example, “The mines employ over 1000 workers.”
Another case where “mine” can be confusing is when used as a possessive pronoun. In this case, the verb agreement is based on the noun that follows it. For example, “The diamond mine and its resources are mine.” In this case, the verb agreement is based on “resources,” which is plural, so the verb “are” is used. However, if the sentence were changed to “The diamond mine is mine,” the verb agreement would be singular.
In summary, when dealing with “mine” as a collective noun, it should be treated as singular and require singular verb agreement. When “mine” is used as a possessive pronoun, the verb agreement is based on the noun that follows it. Always be aware of the context in which “mine” is being used to ensure proper subject verb agreement. By paying close attention to subject verb agreement in your writing, you can ensure that your message is clear and effective.