A Few Verb Agreement

As a copy editor, one of the most common grammatical errors I come across is incorrect verb agreement. This can cause confusion for readers and can also negatively affect the search engine optimization (SEO) of the content. In this article, I`ll cover a few simple rules to follow when it comes to verb agreement in order to improve the clarity and impact of your writing.

Rule 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

The first rule to remember is subject-verb agreement. This means that the verb must agree with the subject in both number and person. For example, if the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural. Consider the following examples:

Incorrect: The group of students was arguing among themselves.

Correct: The group of students were arguing among themselves.

In this example, “group” is singular but “students” is plural. Therefore, the verb should be plural to agree with the subject.

Rule 2: Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone,” “somebody,” and “anyone,” can be tricky when it comes to verb agreement. They are often singular in meaning, but can also be plural depending on the context. In general, these pronouns should be treated as singular, so the verb should also be singular. Take a look at this example:

Incorrect: Everyone were surprised by the news.

Correct: Everyone was surprised by the news.

The pronoun “everyone” is singular, so the verb “was” should also be singular.

Rule 3: Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things, but are considered as a single entity. Examples of collective nouns include “team,” “family,” and “committee.” When using a collective noun as the subject, the verb should agree with the noun in singular form. Here`s an example:

Incorrect: The committee have decided to postpone the meeting.

Correct: The committee has decided to postpone the meeting.

Since “committee” is a collective noun, it should be treated as a single entity and the verb “has” should be singular.

In conclusion, these are just a few rules to bear in mind when it comes to verb agreement. By following them, you`ll be able to produce clear, grammatically correct content that is optimized for search engines. Remember, small mistakes like incorrect verb agreement can make a big difference when it comes to the readability and professionalism of your writing.