Tips for Common Errors in Subject Verb Agreement
Help Students Master Common Grammar Pitfalls in Essay Writing
Jun 27, 2009
Year after school year, students review grammar concepts they are expected to use when writing essays. They are reminded in revision and editing checklists that they must proofread for grammar and usage errors, as well as content. However, many students continue to make the same mistakes over and over again.
While this is frustrating for teachers, students struggle to attain mastery over specific grammar rules. By using ample examples extracted from real student writing, teachers can tackle this problem and help students solidify their grammar skills. Here are some common grammar errors and examples to help students understand what they look like and how they can be corrected.
Subject/ Verb Agreement in Number
There are many errors that involve subject and verb agreement. Often a problem arises when the subject is separated by several modifying words, such as in the following sentences:
- Example 1: Many students who have always longed to study in Europe are looking forward to summer travel.
- Example 2: Each of the one hundred and fifty students wants to earn a high SAT score.
Quick Tip: Be sure students can first identify the subject, not just any noun, of the sentence.
Subject/ Verb Agreement in Inverted Sentences
Students may also have difficulty writing grammatically correct sentences when the subject is located after the verb in a sentence. These "flipped" sentences often make it difficult for students to identify the true subject of the sentence. Teachers can offer the following examples for their students to study.
- Example: Besides American students enjoying diverse afterschool activities, there is a valuable health benefit for keeping teens physically active.
Many students would quickly assume the subject is students, which is a plural noun. They would, therefore, want to use a plural verb, such as are. In the above example, however, the true subject is benefit. This subject requires the verb which comes before it to remain singular, is.
Quick Tip: Encourage students to first determine whether a sentence is in standard or inverted word order.
Subject/ Verb Agreement When the Subject Appears Plural
Students often make this common error in their writing. A singular subject may appear plural, and students incorrectly match this subject with a singular verb. Consider the following examples.
- Example 1: Neither male nor female students seems interested in participating in the after school clean-up at the local beach.
- Example 2: Either Lucy or Cathy deserves to be an award-winning poet.
Words such as neither or either should be treated as singular. These constructions do not create compound subjects. Since they are singular, each requires a singular verb.
Teaching students to anticipate these common grammar errors involving subject verb agreement will heighten their awareness of sentence constructions as well as anticipate other problems involving sentence structure. Teachers should prepare ample examples in advance for students to practice correcting before writing their next essays.
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