Agreement is a fundamental aspect of the English language. It enables us to communicate effectively by agreeing on the subject and verb of a sentence. When the subject and verb agree in number and person, it conveys the intended meaning accurately. In this article, we will explain the use of agreement in the English language and discuss its importance in writing.
Agreement is the act of matching the subject of a sentence with its corresponding verb. In simpler terms, when the subject is singular, the verb must be singular, and when the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. If there is a mismatch between the subject and verb, it can create confusion and ambiguity in the sentence.
For instance, „The bird sings“ is a correct sentence because the singular subject „bird“ matches with the singular verb „sings.“ However, if we use a plural verb with a singular subject, it will create an error in agreement. For example, „The bird sing“ is not a correct sentence because the singular subject „bird“ does not match with the plural verb „sing.“ Similarly, when the subject is plural, such as „the birds,“ the verb must be plural, such as „fly.“
Agreement is not limited to subject-verb agreement; it also applies to other parts of the sentence. Pronouns, adjectives, and nouns must also agree in number and gender. For example, „she“ is a singular pronoun, and „they“ is a plural pronoun. When referring to a singular noun, we use singular pronouns, and for plural nouns, we use plural pronouns. Similarly, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. For example, „the blue car“ relates to a singular noun, while „the blue cars“ relates to a plural noun.
The importance of agreement in writing is to ensure that the reader understands the intended meaning of the sentence. Grammatical errors in agreement can cause confusion and ambiguity, leading to misinterpretation of the message. It can also make writing appear unprofessional and sloppy, leading to a loss of credibility.
In conclusion, agreement is a crucial aspect of the English language, ensuring that the subject and verb, pronouns, adjectives, and nouns match in number and gender. It is essential to use proper agreement in writing to convey the intended message accurately and to maintain professionalism and credibility. Adopting good writing habits that incorporate proper agreement will improve the quality of your writing and enhance effective communication with your readers.