Subject-verb agreement is an essential grammatical rule that ensures clarity and coherence in writing. It refers to the agreement of the subject and verb in a sentence, which means that the verb must match the number and person of the subject.
When we read a passage, we expect to see subject-verb agreement because it helps us understand the meaning of the sentence. Incorrect subject-verb agreement can make a sentence confusing, and the reader might have to reread it to understand its meaning.
Here is an example of a reading passage that demonstrates subject-verb agreement:
“John runs every morning to stay fit. He enjoys breathing in the fresh air while listening to his favorite music. Sometimes, he meets his friends on the trail and runs together.”
In this passage, the subject-verb agreement is correct. The singular subject “John” matches the singular verb “runs” in the first sentence. The singular subject “he” matches the singular verb “enjoys” in the second sentence. And the singular subject “he” matches the singular verb “runs” in the third sentence.
However, not all passages have correct subject-verb agreement. Here is an example of a reading passage that demonstrates incorrect subject-verb agreement:
“The students in the class is studying for their final exams. They has been studying for weeks, and they were feeling stressed and overwhelmed. However, they knew that their hard work will pay off in the end.”
In this passage, the subject-verb agreement is incorrect. The plural subject “students” does not match the singular verb “is” in the first sentence. The plural subject “they” does not match the singular verb “has” in the second sentence. And the plural subject “they” does not match the singular verb “knew” in the third sentence.
To correct the subject-verb agreement in this passage, we need to change the verb to match the plural subject. The corrected passage would read:
“The students in the class are studying for their final exams. They have been studying for weeks, and they are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. However, they know that their hard work will pay off in the end.”
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential rule to follow when writing or reading a passage. It ensures clarity and coherence in writing and helps the reader understand the meaning of the sentence. Therefore, it is crucial to review your writing and double-check your subject-verb agreement to ensure that your writing is clear and easy to understand.
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