Subject-verb agreement is an important rule in English grammar, and it refers to ensuring that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular as well. Similarly, if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural too.
In order to select the option that demonstrates proper subject-verb agreement, it is important to first identify the subject of the sentence. Once you have done that, you can then select the verb that agrees in number with the subject.
Here are some examples of sentences with proper subject-verb agreement:
1. The dog barks loudly at night. (singular subject, singular verb)
2. The birds fly south for the winter. (plural subject, plural verb)
3. The car needs new tires. (singular subject, singular verb)
4. The children play in the park after school. (plural subject, plural verb)
5. The book on the shelf belongs to me. (singular subject, singular verb)
On the other hand, here are some examples of sentences with improper subject-verb agreement:
1. The cat meow loudly at night. (singular subject, plural verb)
2. The bird flies south for the winter. (plural subject, singular verb)
3. The car need new tires. (singular subject, plural verb)
4. The children plays in the park after school. (plural subject, singular verb)
5. The books on the shelf belong to me. (singular subject, plural verb)
In the first example, “cat” is a singular subject, but “meow” is a plural verb. The correct verb should be “meows” to agree in number with the singular subject.
In the second example, “bird” is a singular subject, but “flies” is a plural verb. The correct verb should be “fly” to agree in number with the singular subject.
In the third example, “car” is a singular subject, but “need” is a plural verb. The correct verb should be “needs” to agree in number with the singular subject.
In the fourth example, “children” is a plural subject, but “plays” is a singular verb. The correct verb should be “play” to agree in number with the plural subject.
In the fifth example, “books” is a plural subject, but “belongs” is a singular verb. The correct verb should be “belong” to agree in number with the plural subject.
In conclusion, selecting the option that demonstrates proper subject-verb agreement requires careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of English grammar. By following this rule, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and easy to understand.