Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of writing that every author must master. In books, it’s important to ensure that the subject and verb agree in number for the sentence to be grammatically correct. Otherwise, it can lead to confusion, misunderstandings, and a negative impact on the reader’s experience.

To begin with, let’s define what subject-verb agreement actually means. Every sentence has a subject and a verb. The subject is the person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about. The verb is the action that the subject performs or the state that the subject is in. Subject-verb agreement refers to the matching of the number of the subject with the number of the verb in a sentence.

For instance, consider the following sentence;

“The dog barks at the cat.”

Here, the subject is “the dog,” and the verb is “barks.” Since the dog is singular, the verb “barks” is also singular, matching the subject in number. If the subject were plural, the verb would be plural as well.

“Dogs bark at cats.”

In this sentence, the subject is “dogs,” and the verb is “bark.” The subject and verb are plural, matching each other in number.

Here are a few tips to help you ensure subject-verb agreement in your writing.

1. Identify the subject: Ensure that you identify the subject of your sentence before writing the verb. This will help you determine if your subject is singular or plural.

2. Note the number: Once you have identified the subject, note whether it’s singular or plural. This will help you match the number of the verb with that of the subject.

3. Use linking verbs properly: When using linking verbs such as “is,” “are,” and “was,” ensure that they match the number of the subject. For instance:

“The cat was happy.”

“The cats were happy.”

4. Watch out for compound subjects: When a sentence has two or more subjects joined by “and,” the verb should be plural. For instance:

“John and Jane study together.”

“Dogs and cats are friends.”

5. Be consistent: Ensure that you’re consistent with your subject-verb agreement throughout your writing. Changing from singular to plural or vice versa can cause confusion.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of writing that every author must master. Ensure that you identify the subject, note its number, and use the correct verb form when writing your sentences. With these simple tips, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and easy to understand.