Have you ever written a sentence and paused, wondering whether your verb correctly matches the subject? You're not alone! Subject-verb agreement is a core grammar rule in English, and things can get confusing—especially when sentences are long and filled with interruptions. In this article, we'll learn how to ensure your subject and verb always agree, even when distractions sneak in.
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
It means that the verb must match the subject in number:
- Singular subject = singular verb
- Plural subject = plural verb
✔️ The dogs bark at strangers.
How Interruptions Confuse Us
Interruptions like prepositional phrases, descriptive clauses, or parenthetical elements often mislead us about the subject. Let's see how:
Example 1: Prepositional Phrase
❌ The bouquet of roses were beautiful.
Although "roses" is plural, the subject is "bouquet" (singular), so the verb should be "was".
Example 2: Parenthetical Elements
❌ My friend, along with her siblings, are coming to the party.
Example 3: Descriptive Clauses
The subject is still just "captain", not "team".
Common Mistakes
Writers often make errors when:
- Sentences are long
- They contain collective nouns
- Phrases like as well as, along with, including are present
✔️ The teacher, along with her students, was excited.
How to Avoid These Mistakes
1. Identify the True Subject
Ignore the interruptions. Focus on the main subject doing the action.
2. Trust Your Ear—But Confirm
If it sounds wrong, double-check it. Try reading the sentence without the interruptions.
3. Use Grammarly
Why Grammarly is a Writer’s Best Friend
Even if you're confident in grammar, tools like Grammarly can catch small errors you might overlook. Grammarly checks subject-verb agreement, punctuation, and clarity—and even explains why something is wrong.
Whether you're writing a blog, email, or academic paper, Grammarly helps you write better and faster.
🎯 Try it free at Grammarly.com
Conclusion
Subject-verb agreement might look easy, but with interruptions, things get tricky. Always ask yourself: What is the real subject here? Once you identify it, ignore the extra fluff, and match the verb accordingly.
With practice—and a little help from Grammarly—you'll master subject-verb agreement in no time!
0 Comments