Sentence Structure & Subject-Verb Agreement
Sentence Structure & Subject-Verb Agreement
This chapter delves into the building blocks of a sentence and the crucial role of subject-verb agreement in clear communication.
Analyzing Sentence Structure: Subjects, Predicates, Phrases, and Clauses
A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. Understanding its structure is essential for proper grammar usage. Here are the key components of a sentence:
Subject: The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action or experiences the state of being expressed in the sentence. It tells who or what the sentence is about.
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- Examples: * The cat chased the toy mouse. (The cat is the subject) * She is reading a book. (She is the subject)
Predicate: The predicate tells what the subject is doing or what exists. It contains the verb and all the words that modify it (adverbs, objects, etc.).
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- Examples: (referring back to the examples above) * chased the toy mouse (chased is the verb, the toy mouse is the object) * is reading a book (is reading is the verb phrase, a book is the object)
Phrases: A phrase is a group of words that functions as a single grammatical unit but does not express a complete thought. Phrases can act as nouns (noun phrases), verbs (verb phrases), adjectives (adjective phrases), or adverbs (adverb phrases).
- Examples:
- in the morning (adverb phrase) – modifies the verb “went” (not shown)
- the red car (noun phrase) – functions as the subject
- very interesting (adjective phrase) – modifies the adjective “book” (not shown)
- to learn grammar (verb phrase) – infinitive phrase functioning as the object of the preposition “to”
Clauses: A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought. A sentence can have one or more clauses.
- Examples:
- The student studied hard. (Simple sentence with one independent clause)
- Although she studied hard, she did not pass the exam. (Compound sentence with two independent clauses joined by a conjunction)
- When the teacher explained the concept, the student finally understood. (Complex sentence with one independent clause and a dependent clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction “when”)
Subject-Verb Agreement Rules (Singular vs. Plural Subjects and Verbs)
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule in grammar. It ensures that the verb in a sentence agrees in number (singular or plural) with its subject. Here are the key rules:
Singular Subjects: If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular.
Examples:
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- The boy runs every morning.
- She speaks three languages.
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Plural Subjects: If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
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- Examples:
- The birds sing beautifully.
- They live in a big house.
- Examples:
Common Errors:
Subjects with “s” endings: Not all nouns ending in “s” are plural. Be sure to identify the actual subject and ensure the verb agrees with its number.
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- Example (Incorrect): The waitress bring our food quickly. (Correct): The waitress brings our food quickly. (“Waitress” is singular, so the verb needs to be “brings”)
Subjects joined by “and”: When subjects are joined by “and,” the verb is usually plural (unless they refer to a single unit).
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- Examples:
- Bread and butter go well together. (Bread and butter is treated as a single unit)
- John and Mary live next door. (John and Mary are separate subjects, so the verb is plural)
- Examples:
Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (like family, team, committee) can be singular or plural depending on the context. The verb should agree with the intended meaning.
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- Examples:
- The team has won several games. (Team is treated as a singular unit)
- The committee are divided on the issue. (Committee refers to individual members, so the verb is plural)
- Examples:
Subjects with intervening phrases: Sometimes phrases come between the subject and the verb. Make sure the verb agrees with the subject, not the words in the phrase.
- Example (Incorrect): There are many books on the shelf.
(Correct): There is a book on the shelf. (“There” is a singular expletive subject, so the verb needs to be “is”)
Identifying Subject-Verb Agreement Errors in Sentences
Here are some tips for identifying subject-verb agreement errors:
- Read the sentence aloud: Pay attention to how the subject and verb sound together. If they sound awkward, there might be a subject-verb agreement issue.
- Underline the subject and circle the verb: This helps you visually identify the two elements and ensure they agree in number.
- Temporarily remove phrases between the subject and verb: This isolates the subject and verb, making it easier to see if they agree.
Practice Exercises:
i. Identify the subject and verb in each sentence. Then, determine if the subject-verb agreement is correct. If not, correct the sentence.
- The dog chase the ball in the park. (Incorrect) – Subject: dog (singular), Verb: chase (plural). Corrected sentence: The dog chases the ball in the park.
- Many people enjoy reading novels. (Correct)
- Neither the soup nor the salad tastes good. (Singular subject – “neither”) – Corrected sentence: Neither the soup nor the salad tastes good.
- The flowers on the table smell wonderful. (Collective noun – “flowers” treated as a singular unit)
ii. Write your own sentences and ensure subject-verb agreement.
Remember: By practicing subject-verb agreement, you’ll write clear and grammatically correct sentences that enhance your communication skills.