Agreement in grammar is the fundamental concept that the words in a sentence agree with each other in number, gender, and tense. It is considered a critical aspect of writing, and not understanding it can lead to confusion in meaning. In this article, we will break down the concept of agreement in detail and provide examples to help you master this essential grammar rule.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is the most common form of agreement in English grammar. It refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. The rule is simple: a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. Here are some examples:
– The cat sleeps on the couch. (singular subject, singular verb)
– The cats sleep on the couch. (plural subject, plural verb)
The verb must also agree with the tense of the sentence. For instance, in the present tense, the verb takes an “s” for the third-person singular subjects (he, she, it).
– He eats pizza often. (singular subject, present tense)
– They eat pizza often. (plural subject, present tense)
Gender Agreement
Gender agreement is another aspect of agreement in grammar that refers to matching the gender of the pronouns with the nouns they replace. In English, gender agreement is relatively straightforward, as there are only two genders: masculine and feminine. Here are some examples:
– My brother is a doctor. He is very busy. (masculine agreement)
– My sister is a doctor. She is very busy. (feminine agreement)
If the gender of the noun is unknown or irrelevant, the pronoun “they” can be used as a neutral pronoun.
– Someone left their phone on the table. (non-gender-specific agreement)
Noun-Adjective Agreement
Noun-adjective agreement refers to the matching of adjectives to the nouns they modify in a sentence. For example, in a sentence “The red car is fast,” the adjective “red” agrees with the noun “car” in gender and number. Here are some examples:
– The tall boy is running. (singular noun, singular adjective)
– The tall boys are running. (plural noun, plural adjective)
In some cases, the adjective must agree with the gender of the noun it describes.
– The beautiful woman is singing. (feminine noun, feminine adjective)
– The handsome man is singing. (masculine noun, masculine adjective)
Conclusion
Agreement is an essential concept in English grammar that involves matching the subject and the verb, the pronoun and the antecedent, or the noun and the adjective in gender, number, and tense. Inconsistencies in agreement can lead to confusion and ambiguity in meaning. By understanding the rules of agreement and practicing them regularly, you can write sentences that are clear, concise, and grammatically correct.