As an experienced copy editor, I understand the importance of using proper grammar and correct punctuation to enhance the readability and search engine optimization (SEO) of any written content. One crucial aspect of writing is ensuring that we use the correct agreement in our sentences.
Agreement in writing refers to the proper matching of a subject with its corresponding verb or pronoun. When there is proper agreement, the sentence becomes grammatically correct and easier to understand. In this article, we will provide some examples of agreement to help you understand how to use it correctly in your writing.
Subject-Verb Agreement
The most common type of agreement in English is subject-verb agreement. This agreement refers to the grammatical match between the subject and its corresponding verb. Here are some examples of subject-verb agreement:
– She eats a lot of vegetables.
– He plays football every day.
– They are running a marathon next week.
In each example, the subject and verb agree in number and person. For instance, in the first sentence, “she” is a singular subject, and “eats” is the singular verb that agrees with the subject.
Pronoun Agreement
Pronoun agreement refers to the matching of a pronoun with its corresponding noun or antecedent. Here are some examples of pronoun agreement:
– He gave me his book, and I returned it to him.
– The team won their game and celebrated their victory.
– Jessica likes to read books, and she often recommends them to her friends.
In each example, the pronoun agrees with its corresponding antecedent in gender, number, and person.
Agreement Between Adjectives and Nouns
Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns. When using multiple adjectives to describe a noun, they must be in agreement. Here are some examples:
– She has a beautiful, shiny car.
– The old, rusty bike needs to be fixed.
In each example, the adjectives “beautiful” and “shiny” or “old” and “rusty” agree in number and match the noun they are describing.
In conclusion, agreement is a crucial aspect of writing that helps enhance readability, consistency, and accuracy. By using the correct agreement between subjects and verbs, pronouns and antecedents, and adjectives and nouns, your writing becomes more effective and easier to understand. I hope this article has provided some helpful examples to guide you in using agreement correctly in your writing.