Common mistake [determiner] + [plural noun] verb agreement

One of the most common grammatical mistakes that people make in the English language is related to the agreement between the subject and the verb. Specifically, it is important to ensure that the verb agrees with the subject in terms of number. This means that a singular subject should be paired with a singular verb, and a plural subject should be paired with a plural verb.

Examples

Singular Subject and Singular Verb

Incorrect: The dog run in the park.

Correct: The dog runs in the park.

Plural Subject and Plural Verb

Incorrect: The dogs run in the park.

Correct: The dogs run in the park.

This error often occurs when the subject and the verb are separated by other words, such as prepositional phrases or clauses. In such cases, it is important to focus on the subject and determine whether it is singular or plural in order to choose the correct verb form.

Using Determiners

One common mistake that people make is related to the use of determiners in conjunction with plural nouns. Determiners are words like "a," "an," "the," "some," "many," "few," "several," and "most" that are used before nouns to specify their quantity or level of definiteness.

When using a determiner with a plural noun, it is important to remember that the noun itself is already indicating plurality. Therefore, the verb that follows should be in the plural form as well.

Examples

Incorrect: A cats live in my neighborhood.

Correct: Cats live in my neighborhood.

Incorrect: The books is on the shelf.

Correct: The books are on the shelf.

It is worth noting that not all determiners are used exclusively with plural nouns. Some determiners can be used with both singular and plural nouns, while others are specific to one or the other. It is important to familiarize oneself with the correct usage of determiners in order to avoid this common grammatical mistake.

One easy way to avoid such errors is by using a grammar checker like Linguix. Linguix has advanced algorithms that can help identify and correct verb agreement errors, ensuring that your writing is grammatically accurate.

[determiner] + [plural noun] verb agreement mistake examples

Incorrect:
Luckily, those children gets better education.

Correct:
Luckily, those children get better education.
Incorrect:
These curves looks similar to those basis curves.

Correct:
These curves look similar to those basis curves.
Incorrect:
These districts has clusters of schools geographically located.

Correct:
These districts have clusters of schools geographically located.
Incorrect:
Our tests works on real devices.

Correct:
Our tests work on real devices.
Incorrect:
The issues is that I work overseas and shipping is expensive.

Correct:
The aresues are that I work overseas and shipping are expensive.
Incorrect:
The bodies includes those of small children and their mothers with bulletholes in their skulls.

Correct:
The bodies include those of small children and their mothers with bulletholes in their skulls.
Incorrect:
Her conditions worsens and Death tries to lure her to eternal rest.

Correct:
Her conditions worsen and Death tries to lure her to eternal rest.
Incorrect:
The models reflects 10 years on the revenue forecast.

Correct:
The models reflect 10 years on the revenue forecast.
Correct:
The Times is a news publication.
Correct:
How many minutes does it take usually?
Correct:
Unfortunately the Alerts Conditions API endpoint does not accept empty or missing fields in the `PUT` request.
Correct:
Japanese anime these days is becoming more and more like pornography.
Correct:
Additionally, the DOE has changed some of its annual reporting requirements...
Correct:
So far the DOE has promised $22 million to be spent over three years...
Correct:
Taking too many selfies signifies a lack of sex.
Correct:
I have the Pompano files given to me by Kathleen Carnahan, and the FPL agreements/studies, taken in the name of Endeavor Development Company, LLC, are not part of the file.
Correct:
Now my brace is falling apart.
Correct:
Here my friends is no enemy, this is Michael.
Correct:
There my friends is no enemy, this is Michael.
Correct:
Soon, the goldfish is left.
Correct:
Since the bitcoin is in their digit portfolio.
Correct:
Today the turtle is 25 years old.
Correct:
However, the sole is extremely hard.
Correct:
Hopefully the shot goes well.
Correct:
When the Commissions proposes a new law, it sends it to the governor.
Correct:
The glaze on the doughnuts is often seen as the most important part.
Correct:
One of the employers has to tell the workers that they're going to be let go.
Correct:
One of the questions is, if you had the time, would you do it?
Correct:
Once the cactus has no leaves, photosynthesis slows down.
Correct:
Later the debris is cleaned up and swept away.
Correct:
One of the Residences appears part of the historical quarter.
Correct:
The thing about these years has been a the creation of a new social order.
Correct:
Fortunately the bacteria is algae.
Correct:
Before her eyes is a swollen ankle and a broken toe.
Correct:
How many calories is this?
Correct:
The woods includes Millington Springs, which formerly supported beds of watercress.
Correct:
The alerts channels resource provides information about an account's channels.
Correct:
The savings equals $12,000.
Correct:
The docs is updated for now.
Correct:
The properties files still contained th old app key instead of the new.
Correct:
Some times doesn't work.

Incorrect:
I think his remarks goes too far.

Correct:
I think his remarks go too far.
Incorrect:
No way these cars is all yours.

Correct:
No way these cars are all yours.
Incorrect:
We know those kids plays on the team.

Correct:
We know those kids play on the team.
Correct:
But understanding those limits doesn't mean junking the theory.
Correct:
The Times makes every effort to ensure accuracy...
Correct:
About how many pictures does Tom take every day?
Correct:
The States Parties to the Rome Statute
Correct:
Please return all comments questions, please call me.
Correct:
Traiting all classes is currently my next goal for the hero.
Correct:
What characterizes our candidates is their current and recent experiences.
Correct:
With all the updates is there going to be any additional achievements to unlock?
Correct:
Opening all those chests gives you a very good chance of finding some good troops.
Correct:
Some peoples schedules show conflicts.
Correct:
Some future prices for this summer delivery...
Correct:
The futures swaps jumped as high as $2.56/MMBtu by late afternoon...
Correct:
The species has also been known in the past as Monilia albicans...
Correct:
I have the Pompano files given to me by Kathleen Carnahan, and the FPL agreements/studies, taken in the name of Endeavor Development Company, LLC, are not part of the file.
Correct:
Most importantly, the blues is both the cause of song, and song itself.
Correct:
I attached the criteria notes below.
Correct:
Having so many resources increases our carbon footprint.
Correct:
So had these police recruits been required to serve that day, we would have seen less violence.
Correct:
What the blazes does that even mean?
Correct:
The chassis is made of folded metal.
Correct:
Semantics, out of these many topics is one that piqued my interest.
Correct:
The requirement for the many parks is a recommended six feet of distance between strangers.
Correct:
It seems the Argonauts is a film released in 1300.
Correct:
He said his diabetes is well controlled.
Correct:
So what the means is that he is very slow.
Correct:
We saw the skunk is releasing a smell.
Correct:
He put his sons needs in front of his own.
Correct:
So what the blazes does that even mean?
Correct:
I heard the shot makes you ill.
Correct:
I heard the manga has sold over 50 copies.
Correct:
We learned the cornea is roughly only 1mm.
Correct:
His novel, The Wars infuses multiple points about man's tendency towards destruction.
Correct:
How many lakes does Mauricie have?
Correct:
Listening to our supporters is a great way to gain their trust and loyalty.
Correct:
The Outsiders becomes Ponyboys go-to group for his afterschool shenanigans.
Correct:
To know the guys is a certified way to get in trouble.
Correct:
Please select which of these answers is the right one.
Correct:
The buffalo kills more hunters than the other way around.
Correct:
It's weird that one of my parents has a new house.
Correct:
I heard the Phantoms has never failed to pull through.
Correct:
The way he wrote instructions has clearly been to confuse the reader.
Correct:
We heard the news the narcos is now going to fall out with Chapo.
Correct:
Anna And Her Men has an amusing beginning.
Correct:
The turtle is shorter than the tortoise.
Correct:
I think The Columns doesn't open until 8.
Correct:
Later the lobster is submerged to kill it instantly.
Correct:
Visiting the many parks is a recommended way to kill time.
Correct:
The goat has to be able to complete the obstacle course.
Correct:
One of the offers has sparked my interest.
Correct:
Ok so your sis has a problem when I text her.

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