📏English Grammar and Usage Unit 7 – Subject-Verb and Pronoun Agreement

What's the Big Deal?

• Subject-verb and pronoun agreement form the foundation of clear and coherent communication in English
• Mismatched subjects, verbs, and pronouns can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of the intended message
• Proper agreement demonstrates a writer's command of the language and attention to detail
• Consistent agreement throughout a piece of writing enhances its overall quality and professionalism
• Mastering agreement rules is essential for success in academic, professional, and personal writing

The Basics of Agreement

• Subjects and verbs must agree in number (singular or plural)
  • Singular subjects require singular verbs (The cat sleeps)
  • Plural subjects require plural verbs (The cats sleep)
• Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number, gender, and person
  • Singular antecedents require singular pronouns (The student submitted his assignment)
  • Plural antecedents require plural pronouns (The students submitted their assignments)
• Collective nouns can be treated as singular or plural, depending on the context and intended meaning
• Indefinite pronouns (everyone, anybody, each) typically take singular verbs and pronouns
• Compound subjects joined by "and" usually require plural verbs and pronouns

Subject-Verb Harmony

• Present tense verbs change form depending on the subject
  • For most verbs, add -s or -es to the base form for third-person singular subjects (he, she, it)
  • The verb "to be" has unique forms for each person and number (am, is, are)
• Subjects and verbs must agree even when separated by phrases or clauses
• Intervening phrases or clauses do not affect subject-verb agreement (The book, along with its sequels, is a bestseller)
• Subjects joined by "or" or "nor" agree with the verb based on the subject closest to the verb
• In questions, the subject follows the verb or auxiliary, but agreement rules still apply (Does the store have any discounts?)

Pronoun Party: Matching Identities

• Pronouns must match their antecedents in person (first, second, or third)
  • First-person pronouns: I, me, we, us
  • Second-person pronouns: you
  • Third-person pronouns: he, him, she, her, it, they, them
• Gender agreement is crucial when using third-person singular pronouns (he, she, it)
• Avoid gender bias by using gender-neutral pronouns (they, them) when the gender is unknown or irrelevant
• Possessive pronouns (his, hers, its, theirs) do not have apostrophes
• Relative pronouns (who, whom, which, that) must agree with their antecedents

Tricky Situations and Common Pitfalls

• Collective nouns can be singular or plural, depending on whether the group is acting as a unit or as individuals
  • Singular: The team is practicing for the big game
  • Plural: The team are heading to their respective homes after practice
• Compound subjects with "or" or "nor" take the verb form of the subject closest to the verb
  • Neither the students nor the teacher is responsible for the mess
  • Either the chef or the sous chefs are preparing the main course
• Titles of books, movies, and other works are treated as singular, even if they appear plural (The Grapes of Wrath is a classic novel)
• Amounts of money, time, and distance are usually singular (Five hundred dollars is a substantial sum)
• Gerunds (verb forms ending in -ing) used as subjects always take singular verbs (Swimming is my favorite form of exercise)

Putting It All Together: Practice Time

• Identify the subject and verb in each sentence to ensure they agree in number
• Locate pronouns and their antecedents, checking for agreement in number, gender, and person
• Pay special attention to intervening phrases, collective nouns, and compound subjects
• Proofread your writing, reading each sentence aloud to catch any agreement errors
• Practice with online quizzes, worksheets, and peer review to reinforce your understanding of agreement rules

Real-World Applications

• Proper agreement is essential in professional writing, such as business emails, reports, and proposals
• Consistent agreement enhances the clarity and credibility of academic writing, including essays and research papers
• In creative writing, intentional deviations from agreement rules can be used for stylistic effect or characterization
• Correct agreement is crucial in legal documents, contracts, and official communications to avoid ambiguity and misinterpretation
• Mastering agreement rules can help you succeed in standardized tests, such as the SAT, ACT, and GRE

Pro Tips and Memory Tricks

• Simplify the sentence to isolate the subject and verb, making it easier to check for agreement
• Remember that the subject, not the predicate, determines the number of the verb
• Use mnemonic devices to remember tricky rules, such as "FANBOYS" (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) for coordinating conjunctions
• When in doubt, consult a reliable grammar reference or style guide
• Read your writing aloud to catch agreement errors that may be harder to spot when reading silently
• Practice, practice, practice! The more you write and edit, the more natural agreement will become