When it comes to writing, it`s important to ensure that your sentences have proper agreement. This means that every element in a sentence must be in agreement with its subject both in number and tense. Proper agreement helps to make your writing clear, concise, and grammatically correct. Here are some important rules about agreement to keep in mind:
1. Subject-Verb Agreement
The subject of a sentence must agree with the verb in number and person. This means that a singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb. For example:
– “The dog barks” (singular subject, singular verb)
– “The dogs bark” (plural subject, plural verb)
2. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
When using pronouns, it`s essential to ensure that they agree with their antecedents in number, gender, and person. The antecedent is the noun or pronoun to which the pronoun refers. For example:
– “Mary lost her keys” (singular antecedent, singular pronoun)
– “The girls lost their keys” (plural antecedent, plural pronoun)
3. Prepositional Phrase Agreement
Prepositional phrases can create some confusion when it comes to agreement. However, the rule to remember is that the object of the preposition determines the agreement. For example:
– “The book on the shelf is new” (singular object of the preposition, singular verb)
– “The books on the shelves are new” (plural object of the preposition, plural verb)
4. Collective Nouns Agreement
Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things, but they can be singular or plural depending on the context. In general, use a singular verb when referring to a collective noun as a single unit and a plural verb when referring to individuals within the group. For example:
– “The team is playing well” (collective noun as a single unit requires a singular verb)
– “The team are all wearing their new uniforms” (individuals within the team require a plural verb)
By keeping these agreement rules in mind, you can improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing. Remember to always check for proper agreement and make any necessary corrections to ensure that your writing is grammatically correct.