The Subject-Verb Agreement Flowchart: Your Guide to Perfect Grammar
As a writer or editor, it is important to have a strong understanding of grammar rules. One of the most basic rules in English grammar is the subject-verb agreement. This means that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular too. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
Subject-verb agreement errors can be distracting to readers and can make your writing seem unprofessional. However, it can be confusing to figure out whether a subject and verb are in agreement. That’s where the subject-verb agreement flowchart comes in handy.
What is a subject-verb agreement flowchart?
A subject-verb agreement flowchart is a visual tool designed to help writers and editors determine whether a subject and verb are in agreement. The flowchart provides a step-by-step guide to identifying the subject, determining its number, and selecting the correct verb form.
How to use a subject-verb agreement flowchart
Using a subject-verb agreement flowchart is easy. Simply follow the steps outlined in the chart to determine whether your subject and verb are in agreement.
Step 1: Identify the subject
The subject is the noun or pronoun in a sentence that is doing the action. To determine the subject, ask yourself: Who or what is doing the action in the sentence?
Step 2: Determine the number of the subject
The number of the subject refers to whether it is singular or plural. If the subject is singular, it means there is only one of it. If the subject is plural, it means there are multiple items or people.
Step 3: Select the appropriate verb form
Once you have identified the number of the subject, you can select the appropriate verb form. If the subject is singular, the verb form should be singular too. If the subject is plural, the verb form should also be plural.
Examples of subject-verb agreement
Let’s take a look at some examples to see how the subject-verb agreement flowchart works in practice:
Example 1: The cat drinks milk.
Step 1: Identify the subject – The cat
Step 2: Determine the number of the subject – Singular
Step 3: Select the appropriate verb form – Drinks (singular)
Example 2: The cats drink milk.
Step 1: Identify the subject – The cats
Step 2: Determine the number of the subject – Plural
Step 3: Select the appropriate verb form – Drink (plural)
Conclusion
Using a subject-verb agreement flowchart can help you eliminate errors in your writing and improve your grammar skills. By following the steps outlined in the chart, you can easily identify the subject, determine its number, and select the correct verb form. With practice, subject-verb agreement will become second nature, and you will be able to write with confidence and clarity.