Subject-verb agreement is an essential grammatical concept that every writer must master to ensure clarity and coherence in their writing. In simple present tense, the agreement between the subject and verb is crucial for conveying the right meaning. The subject of a sentence is the person or thing that performs the action, while the verb is the action word that shows what the subject does. Here, we`ll discuss some common mistakes writers make with subject-verb agreement in simple present tense and how to avoid them.

First, it`s important to understand that the subject and verb must agree in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. For example, “He runs” is correct because the subject “he” is singular, and the verb “runs” agrees in number. However, the sentence “He run” is incorrect because the verb is not in agreement with the singular subject.

The same rule applies to plural subjects and verbs. For example, “They run” is correct because the subject “they” is plural, and the verb “run” agrees in number. However, the sentence “They runs” is incorrect because the verb is not in agreement with the plural subject.

Another common mistake is when the subject includes words that come between it and the verb, causing confusion. For example, “The book, along with the pen, is on the desk” might sound correct, but it`s actually incorrect. In this sentence, the subject is “book,” which is singular. However, the verb “is” is in agreement with “pen,” which is incorrect. To make this sentence grammatically correct, we need to restructure it like this: “The book is on the desk along with the pen.”

Similarly, when a sentence includes compound subjects, writers often make the mistake of using a singular verb with plural subjects. For example, “John and Mary goes to school” is incorrect. The subject “John and Mary” is plural, so the verb “go” should be plural too. The correct sentence is “John and Mary go to school.”

In some cases, the subject can be complex and require a bit more attention to ensure agreement with the verb. For example, “The quality of the products from the factory has improved.” Here, the subject is “quality,” which is singular. Even though “products” is plural, it`s not the subject; it`s just part of a prepositional phrase. Therefore, the verb “has” is in agreement with the singular subject “quality.”

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement in simple present tense is essential to communicating effectively in writing. To avoid common mistakes, writers must pay attention to the number of the subject and verb, any words that come between them, compound subjects, and complex subjects. By mastering this basic grammatical concept, writers can produce clear and coherent content that engages readers and boosts search engine optimization.