General Agreement in Sentence: A Must-Know Skill for Effective Writing
As a writer, having proper grammar and sentence structure is imperative in conveying your message effectively to your readers. One of the most important aspects of writing is general agreement in sentence.
General agreement refers to the use of consistent verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun agreement that are essential in creating a coherent and easily understandable sentence. Failure to apply general agreement in sentence can lead to confusion, misinterpretation, and ambiguity in your writing.
Verb Tense
Verb tense refers to when the action in the sentence takes place – past, present or future. Using a consistent verb tense in a sentence ensures that the reader will understand the time frame of the action being described. For instance:
– Incorrect: John played basketball yesterday, and he is going to play again tomorrow.
– Correct: John played basketball yesterday, and he will play again tomorrow.
In the first sentence, the use of “played” in the past and “is going to play” in the future creates confusion and makes it difficult for the reader to understand when the actions took place. In the second sentence, the verb tense is consistent with both actions in the past and future.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is the matching of the subject of the sentence with the correct verb tense. Singular subjects require singular verbs, and plural subjects require plural verbs. For example:
– Incorrect: The group of friends was going to the mall, but they arrives too late.
– Correct: The group of friends was going to the mall, but they arrived too late.
In the first sentence, the use of “arrives” is incorrect because it does not match the plural subject “they.” In the second sentence, “arrived” is the correct verb tense since it agrees with the plural subject.
Pronoun Agreement
Pronoun agreement refers to the use of consistent pronouns in a sentence. Pronouns must agree in number, gender, and person with the noun they are replacing. For example:
– Incorrect: When someone needs help, they should ask for his or her neighbor.
– Correct: When someone needs help, they should ask for their neighbor.
In the first sentence, the use of “his or her” with “they” is incorrect and creates confusion. In the second sentence, the use of “their” is preferred since it is gender-neutral.
Using General Agreement in Sentence
Using general agreement in sentence is not a difficult task, but it requires practice and attention to details. Proper grammar and sentence structure are essential in effective communication, and applying general agreement in sentence can help you consistently achieve this goal.
As a professional, I recommend that you always proofread your work to ensure that you have used the correct verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun agreement in your sentences. By doing so, you will have well-written and easily understandable content that will engage and inform your target audience.