Subject-verb agreement is an essential grammar rule that every writer should understand. It refers to the proper agreement between a subject and its corresponding verb in a sentence. When collective nouns are the subject of a sentence, it is important to pay attention to the rules of subject-verb agreement.
Collective nouns are words that refer to a group of people, animals, or things. Examples include team, family, staff, crew, and class. These nouns are singular in form but refer to multiple individuals or items. When using collective nouns, it is important to know whether to use a singular or plural verb form.
Here are some general rules to follow when using collective nouns:
1. Use a singular verb form when referring to a collective noun as a single unit.
For example:
– The team is playing well this season.
– The class is studying for the final exam.
In these sentences, the collective nouns “team” and “class” are treated as a single unit, so the singular verb forms “is” and “studying” are used.
2. Use a plural verb form when referring to a collective noun as individuals.
For example:
– The team are warming up before the game.
– The family were arguing about where to go for dinner.
In these sentences, the collective nouns “team” and “family” are treated as individual members, so the plural verb forms “are” and “were” are used.
3. Be consistent.
If you start by treating a collective noun as a single unit, continue to do so throughout the sentence. The same applies if you treat the collective noun as individuals.
For example:
– The staff is working together to meet the deadline, but some of them are having trouble with the new software.
In this sentence, the collective noun “staff” is treated as a single unit (“is working”), but then as individuals (“some of them are having trouble”).
4. Look out for irregular collective nouns.
Some collective nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow the usual rules. For example:
– The people are protesting in the streets.
– The police have arrested several suspects.
In these sentences, the collective nouns “people” and “police” have irregular plural forms and are always treated as plural, even when referring to a single unit.
In summary, subject-verb agreement is important when using collective nouns in writing. Be sure to pay attention to whether the collective noun is being treated as a single unit or as individuals, and use the appropriate verb form accordingly. By following these simple rules, you can ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct and easy to read.