Make Sentence in English Agreement

Making sentences in English agreement is one of the fundamental rules of grammar. It is essential to ensure that all parts of a sentence, including the subject, verb, and object, agree with one another in terms of number and tense. In this article, we will discuss how to make sentences in English agreement, and the common pitfalls to avoid.

Subject-Verb Agreement

The first rule to keep in mind is that the subject and verb must agree in terms of number and tense. If the subject of the sentence is singular, the verb must be singular as well. Conversely, if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural, too. For example:

– “The boy runs to school.” (singular subject and verb)

– “The boys run to school.” (plural subject and verb)

If the subject is composed of two or more singular nouns connected by “and,” the verb must also be plural. For example:

– “John and Mary play tennis every Saturday.”

However, if the nouns connected by “and” refer to the same person or thing, the verb must be singular. For example:

– “Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.”

Another tricky situation is when the subject and verb are separated by a long phrase or clause. In this case, it`s crucial to identify the subject correctly to determine the correct verb form. For example:

– “The book, along with its accompanying CDs, is on the shelf.” (singular subject and verb)

– “The books, along with their accompanying CDs, are on the shelf.” (plural subject and verb)

Tense Agreement

Aside from number agreement, it`s also essential to ensure that the verb agrees with the tense of the sentence. For instance, if the sentence is in the present tense, the verb must be in the present tense as well. The same goes for past and future tenses. For example:

– “I am studying for my exam.” (present tense)

– “I studied for my exam yesterday.” (past tense)

– “I will study for my exam tomorrow.” (future tense)

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

One common mistake in making sentences in English agreement is using collective nouns as singular subjects. For example:

– “The team is playing tonight.” (correct)

– “The team are playing tonight.” (incorrect)

Collective nouns, such as team, family, or group, refer to multiple individuals, but they are treated as a single entity. Another mistake is using irregular verbs incorrectly. Irregular verbs, such as “be,” “have,” and “do,” have different forms in various tenses. For example:

– “I am going to the party.” (present tense of “be”)

– “I have gone to the party.” (past participle of “go”)

Conclusion

Making sentences in English agreement is essential to clear and effective communication. It`s crucial to ensure that the subject and verb agree in terms of number and tense, and to avoid common pitfalls such as using collective nouns as singular subjects and irregular verbs incorrectly. By following these basic rules, you can improve your writing skills and produce error-free sentences.