What Is Concord or Subject Verb Agreement
Concord or subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammatical rule that ensures sentences are clear, concise, and grammatically correct. This rule requires that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number and person. In simpler terms, it means that if the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural.
This rule plays a crucial role in effective communication because it helps to clarify the intended meaning of a sentence. For instance, consider the sentence “The dog barks.” Here, the subject, “dog,” is singular, and the verb, “barks,” is also singular. If we were to incorrectly use a plural verb, it would result in a confusing sentence: “The dog bark.” This can lead to confusion and misunderstandings, especially in written communication.
Similarly, incorrect subject-verb agreement can undermine the credibility of a writer or speaker, which is why it`s crucial to understand this grammatical rule. Concord applies not only in simple sentences but also in more complex sentences that involve phrases, clauses, and conjunctions. For instance, take the sentence “The dog barks, and the cat meows.” In this sentence, the subject, “dog” is singular, and the verb, “barks,” agrees with it. Likewise, the subject, “cat,” is singular, and the verb, “meows,” agrees with it.
It`s also important to note that concord applies to all types of verbs, including auxiliary verbs, modal verbs, and gerunds. For example, consider the sentence “She is singing.” Here, the verb “is” is an auxiliary verb, and it agrees with the singular subject, “she.” Additionally, the gerund “singing” does not affect the agreement of the subject and the verb. The same applies to modal verbs, such as “should,” “can,” “will,” and “must.”
In conclusion, concord or subject-verb agreement is an essential grammatical rule that plays a significant role in effective communication. It ensures that sentences are clear, concise, and grammatically correct, and it applies to all types of verbs and sentence structures. As a copy editor, it`s essential to have a solid understanding of this rule to produce high-quality, error-free content.
