Subject-verb agreement is one of the most important grammatical rules in the English language. It states that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural). In order to ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct, it`s crucial to understand and practice proper subject-verb agreement. Here are some more examples to help you grasp this concept.

1. Incorrect: The group of boys is playing football.

Correct: The group of boys are playing football.

When the subject is a group of people, it can be tricky to determine whether the verb should be singular or plural. In this case, “boys” is plural, so the verb “are” also needs to be plural.

2. Incorrect: Every student in the class has their own laptop.

Correct: Every student in the class has his or her own laptop.

It`s important to use pronouns that agree with the subject in both number and gender. In this sentence, “student” is singular, so the pronoun “his or her” is also singular.

3. Incorrect: The cat and the dog loves to play together.

Correct: The cat and the dog love to play together.

When the subject is composed of two or more nouns connected by “and,” the verb should be plural. It`s easy to forget this rule when the two nouns are different, but it still applies.

4. Incorrect: Neither of the options seems appealing.

Correct: Neither of the options seem appealing.

When the subject is “neither” or “either,” the verb should agree with the noun that follows it. In this case, “options” is plural, so the verb “seem” is also plural.

5. Incorrect: The news is always depressing.

Correct: The news are always depressing.

This is a controversial example, and it depends on whether you believe “news” is singular or plural. Technically, “news” is a mass noun, which means it refers to a concept that cannot be counted. Some people argue that it should always be treated as singular, while others believe it can be either singular or plural. It`s up to you to decide which rule you want to follow.

In conclusion, mastering subject-verb agreement is essential for effective communication. These examples demonstrate common mistakes and how to avoid them. By paying close attention to your subject and verb, you can improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.