Subject Verb Agreement Rule 4

Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of the English language, and it is crucial to have a firm grasp of the rules to create grammatically correct sentences. In this article, we will take a closer look at the fourth rule of subject-verb agreement.

Rule 4: When the subject is a collective noun that represents a singular entity, use a singular verb. When the subject is a collective noun that represents a group of individuals, use a plural verb.

Collective nouns refer to a group of people, objects, or animals that are considered as a single entity. Examples of collective nouns include team, committee, family, audience, and staff. In some cases, collective nouns may function as singular subjects, whereas in other cases, they may function as plural subjects.

When the collective noun represents a singular entity, meaning that the group is considered as a whole, use a singular verb. For example:

– The committee is meeting tomorrow to discuss the budget.

In this sentence, the committee refers to a single entity, and therefore, we use the singular verb “is meeting.”

On the other hand, when the collective noun represents a group of individuals, meaning that the members of the group are considered individually, use a plural verb. For example:

– The audience were clapping and cheering after the performance.

In this sentence, the audience refers to a group of individuals, and therefore, we use the plural verb “were clapping” and “cheering.”

It is essential to note that some collective nouns can function as both singular and plural subjects depending on the context. For example:

– My family is going on vacation next week. (singular)

– My family are arguing about where to go on vacation. (plural)

In the first sentence, the family refers to a single entity, and hence we use the singular verb “is going.” However, in the second sentence, the family members are considered individually, and thus, we use the plural verb “are arguing.”

To summarize, the fourth rule of subject-verb agreement states that when the collective noun represents a singular entity, use a singular verb, and when it represents a group of individuals, use a plural verb. By following this rule, you can ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct, and your writing is clear and coherent.