Failing agreement, also known as subject-verb agreement, is one of the most important grammatical rules of the English language. It refers to the necessity of using a verb that agrees with the subject in terms of number, person, and gender. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. Failing this agreement can lead to confusing and even grammatically incorrect sentences.
For example, consider the sentence „The dog barks loudly.“ Here, the subject „dog“ is singular, and the verb „barks“ agrees with it in number and person. However, if we were to write „The dog bark loudly,“ we would have failed the agreement between the subject and the verb, making the sentence grammatically incorrect.
Similarly, in a sentence with a compound subject, the verb must agree with the number of the subject. For example, „The dog and the cat play together“ is correct because both subjects are singular, but „The dog and the cats play together“ is incorrect because the subjects are not in agreement.
Failing agreement can also occur when the subject is ambiguous or when the verb is too far from the subject. For example, „The group of students were noisy“ is incorrect because „group“ is singular, and should be followed by the singular verb „was.“ Another example of failing agreement is when the subject is a collective noun, such as „staff,“ „team,“ or „government.“ These nouns are singular, and should be followed by a singular verb.
Why is failing agreement important?
Failing agreement can make a sentence difficult to understand, and may even change the meaning of the sentence altogether. For instance, „The staff is working hard“ implies that all members of the staff are working hard, while „The staff are working hard“ implies that only some members are working hard. Moreover, the use of incorrect grammar can affect the credibility of the writer and the publication.
In addition, failing agreement can negatively impact SEO. Search engines are becoming increasingly sophisticated in understanding natural language and can detect poor grammar and spelling mistakes. These errors can hurt the ranking of a website, making it less visible to potential visitors.
How to avoid failing agreement?
The best way to avoid failing agreement is to practice. Remember to check that the verb agrees with the subject in terms of number, person, and gender. If you`re unsure whether the subject is singular or plural, break down the sentence to identify the subject and verb.
Another useful tip is to read your sentences aloud. This can help you catch any grammatical errors and make sure your sentences flow naturally.
Finally, consider using online tools such as Grammarly or Hemingway to help you identify and correct grammatical errors. These tools can help you catch errors that you may have missed and improve your grammar and writing style.
In conclusion, failing agreement is a common grammatical error that can affect the clarity and credibility of your writing, as well as your website`s SEO. By practicing and using online tools, you can avoid this mistake and produce well-written, error-free content.