Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of writing. It refers to the grammatical rule that dictates that the subject of a sentence should agree with the verb in terms of number. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. This rule may seem simple, but it can be challenging to master, especially for non-native English speakers.
To help you improve your subject-verb agreement skills, here is an activity that you can do on your own or with a group:
Activity 2: Identifying Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
In this activity, you will be given a list of sentences, and your task is to identify and correct the subject-verb agreement errors.
Example:
Incorrect: The group of friends walks to the park every Sunday.
Correct: The group of friends walk to the park every Sunday.
Explanation: The subject of the sentence is “group,” which is singular. However, the verb “walks” is plural. Therefore, the correct verb should be “walk.”
Now, let`s move on to the activity.
1. The pack of wolves (is/are) howling at the moon.
2. The committee (has/have) made a decision.
3. The news (is/are) not good.
4. The number of books on the shelf (is/are) overwhelming.
5. His collection of rare coins (is/are) priceless.
6. The team of scientists (was/were) conducting experiments all night.
7. The series of novels (was/were) a bestseller.
8. The majority of voters (wants/want) change.
9. The twins (has/have) different personalities.
10. The herd of cattle (moves/move) slowly across the field.
Answers:
1. The pack of wolves is howling at the moon.
2. The committee has made a decision.
3. The news is not good.
4. The number of books on the shelf is overwhelming.
5. His collection of rare coins is priceless.
6. The team of scientists was conducting experiments all night.
7. The series of novels was a bestseller.
8. The majority of voters want change.
9. The twins have different personalities.
10. The herd of cattle moves slowly across the field.
Conclusion
Subject-verb agreement errors can make your writing confusing and difficult to understand. By practicing activities like this one, you can improve your grammatical skills and become a better writer. Remember to always check that your subjects and verbs agree in terms of number, and don`t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Happy writing!