Subject Verb Agreement Rule Number 5 Examples
Subject-verb agreement is one of the most important rules in the English language. In simple terms, it means that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in terms of number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. There are five basic subject-verb agreement rules that you need to be aware of, and in this article, we`ll be focusing specifically on rule number 5 examples.
Rule #5: Compound subjects joined by “and”
When two or more subjects are joined by “and”, the verb that follows should be plural. This is because we are talking about multiple subjects, not just one. Here are some examples to help you understand the rule better:
Example 1: Sarah and John are going to the party tonight.
In this sentence, “Sarah” and “John” are the two subjects that are joined by “and”. Because we are talking about two people, the verb “are” (plural) is used.
Example 2: The dog and the cat chase each other around the garden.
In this sentence, “the dog” and “the cat” are the two subjects joined by “and”. Because we are talking about two animals, the verb “chase” (plural) is used.
Example 3: The book, the pen, and the notebook are on the table.
In this sentence, there are three subjects joined by “and”. Even though one of them is singular (“the book”), the presence of the other two plural subjects (“the pen” and “the notebook”) makes the verb “are” (plural) appropriate.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential grammatical rule that ensures that your writing is clear, concise, and easy to understand. By following the five basic rules of subject-verb agreement, you can make sure that your sentences are grammatically correct and communicate your ideas effectively. Remember, it`s always best to double check your work to avoid errors that could be distracting to your audience.