As a copy editor, it is crucial to understand the rules of subject-verb agreement. Subject-verb agreement is the concept of ensuring that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number and person. The subject of the sentence refers to the person or thing that is performing the action, while the verb refers to the action that is being performed.
It is important to follow the basic rules of subject-verb agreement to ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and easy to read. Here are 21 basic rules of subject-verb agreement that every copy editor should know.
Rule 1: A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. For example, “The dog barks” (singular subject) versus “The dogs bark” (plural subject).
Rule 2: Compound subjects joined by “and” take a plural verb, while a compound subject joined by “or” takes a singular verb. For example, “Tom and Jerry are best friends” versus “Either Tom or Jerry is coming to the party.”
Rule 3: Collective nouns, such as “family,” “team,” or “group,” take a singular verb when referring to the group as a unit. For example, “The team is playing well.”
Rule 4: Indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone,” “someone,” and “anyone,” take a singular verb. For example, “Everyone is here.”
Rule 5: “Neither” and “either” take a singular verb. For example, “Neither of the boys is coming to the party.”
Rule 6: When a subject is separated from its verb by a phrase or clause, the verb must agree with the subject, not the intervening words. For example, “The dog, as well as the cat, is sleeping.”
Rule 7: Singular nouns ending in “s” take a singular verb. For example, “The bus stops here.”
Rule 8: When one subject is singular and the other is plural, the verb agrees with the subject closest to the verb. For example, “The dog and cats are sleeping.”
Rule 9: Titles of books, movies, and songs take a singular verb. For example, “The Lord of the Rings is my favorite book.”
Rule 10: Pronouns take singular or plural verbs depending on their antecedents. For example, “The girl and her friends are going to the party. She will bring a cake.”
Rule 11: “A lot” is always singular and takes a singular verb. For example, “A lot of people are coming to the party.”
Rule 12: “There” and “here” are never the subjects of a sentence and do not affect subject-verb agreement. For example, “There are three apples on the table.”
Rule 13: Some nouns that are plural in form, such as “news,” “mathematics,” and “politics,” take a singular verb. For example, “The news is good.”
Rule 14: Proper nouns that refer to a group of people, such as “The Beatles” or “The Supreme Court,” take a plural verb. For example, “The Beatles were a popular band.”
Rule 15: “Each” and “every” take a singular verb. For example, “Every student in the class is required to take the test.”
Rule 16: When a singular subject contains a plural noun phrase, the verb agrees with the noun phrase. For example, “A group of children is playing in the park.”
Rule 17: Possessive nouns take singular verbs. For example, “My mother cooks delicious food.”
Rule 18: When the subject is a fraction or a percentage, the verb agrees with the noun after “of.” For example, “Fifty percent of the students are attending the event.”
Rule 19: When a sentence begins with “there,” the verb agrees with the following noun, not “there.” For example, “There is a cake on the table.”
Rule 20: When using “either/or” and “neither/nor,” the verb agrees with the noun closest to it. For example, “Neither the cat nor the dog is allowed on the couch.”
Rule 21: When using “not only/but also,” the verb agrees with the noun closest to it. For example, “Not only the cat but also the dog is allowed on the couch.”
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is essential in writing to ensure that your message is clear, concise, and easy to read. By following these 21 basic rules, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and professional. As a copy editor, it is important to pay close attention to subject-verb agreement to eliminate any errors and improve the quality of writing.