Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of effective writing. The rule 9 of subject-verb agreement states that collective nouns can be either singular or plural, depending on their usage in a sentence. Collective nouns are words that refer to a group of individuals or things, such as a team, family, or herd. In this article, we will provide examples of subject-verb agreement rule 9 to help you understand how to use collective nouns correctly in your writing.
1. The team is playing well this season.
In this sentence, the collective noun “team” is singular, and the verb “is” also agrees in singular form with the subject. The sentence would be incorrect if we used the plural verb “are” since it does not agree with the singular subject “team.”
2. The family are taking their time to decide on a vacation destination.
In this example, the collective noun “family” is plural, and the verb “are” agrees in the plural form with the subject. It is essential to note that when referring to a family unit as a group of individuals, we use the plural form of the collective noun.
3. The flock of birds is flying south for the winter.
Here, the collective noun “flock” is singular, and the verb “is” agrees in singular form with the subject. Even though there are many birds in the flock, we refer to the group as a singular entity.
4. The jury`s decision is final.
In this case, the collective noun “jury” is singular, and the verb “is” agrees in singular form with the subject. We refer to the jury as a single entity, which is why the singular verb is used.
5. The committee are divided on the issue.
In this example, the collective noun “committee” is plural, and the verb “are” agrees in the plural form with the subject. Committees consist of multiple people, and we use the plural form of the collective noun to refer to them as such.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement rule 9 requires you to use singular or plural verbs with collective nouns, depending on their usage in a sentence. Understanding this rule is crucial to producing clear, concise, and grammatically correct writing. By following the examples of subject-verb agreement rule 9 we have provided, you can ensure that your writing is consistent and effective.