Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of English grammar that involves ensuring that the subject and the verb in a sentence agree in number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
One common area where subject-verb agreement becomes particularly important is when dealing with pronouns, specifically he, she, and it. These three pronouns require unique consideration, as they can sometimes be confusing to use correctly in sentences.
When to use “He”
“He” is a third-person singular pronoun that is used to refer to a male individual. When using “he” in a sentence, it must agree with the verb according to the singular tense. For example:
– He plays football every Saturday.
– He is going to the gym today.
When to use “She”
“She” is also a third-person singular pronoun, but it is used to refer to a female individual. Similar to “he,” when using “she” in a sentence, it must agree with the verb according to the singular tense. For example:
– She is a professor at the university.
– She enjoys reading books in her free time.
When to use “It”
“It” is an interesting pronoun because it can be used to refer to virtually any object or idea. However, many writers tend to use “it” incorrectly, leading to disagreements in subject-verb agreement. When using “it” in a sentence, you must take into consideration the context of the sentence to ensure that the verb agrees with the subject. For example:
– The cat is sleeping. It looks peaceful.
– The car is in the garage. It needs some maintenance.
One common mistake that many writers make when using “it” is using it as a singular pronoun when referring to a group of individuals. For example, “The team is practicing, and it`s going well.” In this instance, “it” is incorrect because “team” is a collective noun, referring to multiple individuals. Instead, the correct sentence should read, “The team is practicing, and they`re doing well.”
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a critical aspect of English grammar, and it becomes particularly important when dealing with third-person singular pronouns such as he, she, and it. By keeping in mind the rules of agreement, you can ensure that your writing is clear and free of errors.
