Common Mistake: Subject-verb agreement error after conjunction

In English grammar, subject-verb agreement refers to the correspondence in number between a subject and its verb. A verb must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. One common mistake that writers often make is an error in subject-verb agreement after a conjunction.

What is a conjunction?

A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses. Common conjunctions include "and," "but," "or," "so," and "yet." They are used to join two or more elements together in a sentence.

The mistake:

After a conjunction, sometimes writers mistakenly match the verb form with the nearest noun instead of the subject of the sentence. This error can lead to confusion and make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Example:

• Incorrect: The dog barks and the cats sleep on the sofa.
• Correct: The dog barks and the cats sleep on the sofa.

Explanation:

In the incorrect example, the verb "barks" agrees with the noun "dog" instead of the plural subject "cats." The correct sentence would be, "The dog barks and the cats sleep on the sofa," where the verb "sleep" agrees with the plural subject "cats."

How to avoid the mistake:

To avoid the subject-verb agreement error after a conjunction, always match the verb form with the subject of the sentence, regardless of the other nouns or pronouns present.

Using a grammar checker like Linguix:

Linguix grammar checker is a powerful tool that can help you identify and correct subject-verb agreement errors, including those that occur after conjunctions. With its advanced algorithms, Linguix can detect such mistakes and offer suggestions for correction, ensuring that your writing is grammatically accurate.