When it comes to good grammar, one of the most important rules to keep in mind is that of subject-verb agreement. This means that the verb in a sentence needs to match the subject – or the noun – that it’s referring to in terms of number.
For example, in the sentence “The cat plays with its toys,” the subject is “the cat” and the verb is “plays”. Since the subject is singular, the verb also needs to be singular. If the sentence was written as “The cats play with their toys,” the verb would need to be plural to match the subject.
Using proper subject-verb agreement is essential not just for good grammar, but also for SEO. Your writing needs to be easy for your readers to understand, and search engines like Google prioritize content that is clear, concise, and well-written. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you improve your verb-subject agreement:
1. Identify the subject: Before you start writing a sentence, identify the subject first. This will help you choose the correct verb form.
2. Pay attention to number: If the subject is singular – that is, referring to one thing – the verb should be singular. If the subject is plural – referring to more than one thing – the verb should be plural.
3. Check for tricky subjects: Some subjects are harder to identify than others, so pay particular attention to them. For example, collective nouns like “team”, “group” or “family” can be singular or plural depending on how they’re being used in the sentence.
4. Be consistent: Make sure that all the verbs in a sentence match the subject in terms of number. For example, if the subject is singular, all the verbs should be singular too.
5. Edit carefully: Once you’ve written your piece, take the time to edit it carefully to ensure that your subject-verb agreement is correct.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to improve your writing skills and create content that is both grammatically correct and SEO-friendly. Remember, good grammar is not just about following rules – it’s about creating content that is easy to read, understand, and share.