Common mistake Agreement: Mass/singular noun + non-third-person verb

Agreement: Mass/singular noun + non-third-person verb

One common mistake that many people make in English is using non-third-person verb forms with singular and mass nouns. This can lead to agreement errors in your writing. To avoid this mistake, it's important to understand when to use third-person verb forms.

When we talk about mass nouns or non-countable nouns, we are referring to things that cannot be counted or have no plural form. Examples of mass nouns include "water," "information," and "advice."

For example, let's look at the sentence:

"The information is helpful."

In this sentence, "information" is a mass noun, so it should be followed by a third-person verb form ("is") rather than a non-third-person form like "are."

Similarly, when using singular countable nouns, we also need to use third-person verb forms. Singular countable nouns refer to things that can be counted and have a singular form. Examples include "book," "dog," and "car."

For example, let's look at the sentence:

"The book belongs to her."

In this sentence, "book" is a singular countable noun, so it should be followed by a third-person verb form ("belongs") rather than a non-third-person form like "belong."

Using incorrect verb forms with mass and singular nouns can make your writing sound unnatural and grammatically incorrect. So, it's important to pay attention to agreement between your nouns and verbs.

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To help you avoid agreement errors and other common grammar mistakes, you can use the Linguix grammar checker. With its advanced algorithms and vast database of grammar rules, Linguix can quickly identify and correct any agreement errors in your writing. By using this powerful tool, you can ensure that your writing is accurate and professional.

Agreement: Mass/singular noun + non-third-person verb mistake examples

Incorrect:
Marketing are bad for you.

Correct:
Marketing is bad for you.
Incorrect:
Marketing mean a lot of trouble.

Correct:
Marketing means a lot of trouble.
Incorrect:
Jim are good.

Correct:
Jim is good.
Correct:
I think it is bad for you.
Correct:
Reporting sample size analysis is generally required in psychology.
Correct:
Most have four limbs except for caecilians.
Correct:
Greece can no longer pay off its debts.
Correct:
Everyone please review responsibilities and let me know your comments.
Correct:
This better be important.
Correct:
Marketing better show some respect.
Correct:
Tim Be careful of paying for insurance wraps.
Correct:
Gone are the days ...
Correct:
Reminder note the training room has changed to EB49C1...
Correct:
England are the current holders after winning the Ashes in ...

Incorrect:
Marketing, for instance, are bad for you.

Correct:
Marketing, for instance, is bad for you.
Incorrect:
Marketing, for example, mean a lot of trouble.

Correct:
Marketing, for example, means a lot of trouble.
Incorrect:
Jim, who is 8 years old, are good.

Correct:
Jim, who is 8 years old, is good.
Correct:
I think it is bad for you.
Correct:
Reporting sample size analysis is generally required in psychology.
Correct:
Most have four limbs except for caecilians.
Correct:
Clayton, Please, mention this to Shirley.
Correct:
Mark, Greg, Please pay special attention to the Engage Canada Physical worksheet.

Incorrect:
The marketing are bad for you.

Correct:
The marketing is|marketings are|markets are bad for you.
Incorrect:
My mother are a doctor.

Correct:
My mother is|mothers are a doctor.
Incorrect:
Our success depend on your efforts.

Correct:
Our success depends|successes depend on your efforts.
Correct:
The city is an international transport hub and a popular tourist destination.
Correct:
Those wanting are the Canines.
Correct:
The Vietnamese are good people.
Correct:
The transport deduct on net volumes is $.2422.
Correct:
The rest are arriving later.
Correct:
A credit review on Renaissance will be conducted within the next week.
Correct:
The committee are all against it.
Correct:
An evening glow often promises good weather.
Correct:
An export pipeline that transports Caspian oil.
Correct:
A Shuttle trip around the world takes only ninety minutes.
Correct:
Our personnel are encouraged to work as a team.
Correct:
His last film The Sacrifice was produced in Sweden in 1986.
Correct:
Caught by MANY_NN: Many child are unhappy.
Correct:
Neither may be necessary, let me know.
Correct:
The end date on #21 (contract # 58654) is 4/30/2005.
Correct:
The demand charge on #21 and #17 is $3.145 per month.
Correct:
This better be important.
Correct:
No longer are the riches of the Bible known only to a few.
Correct:
All IT project technical communications will be focused through your company's designated IT contact(s).
Correct:
The Kabyle are Berber but they are secular unlike other Berbers.
Correct:
The remainder are senior specialists.
Correct:
The youth eat in the garden.

Incorrect:
The marketing, for example, are bad for you.

Correct:
The marketing, for example, is bad for you.
Incorrect:
My mother, for example, are a doctor.

Correct:
My mother, for example, is a doctor.
Correct:
The city is an international transport hub and a popular tourist destination.
Correct:
Those wanting are the Canines.

Incorrect:
The dog eat.

Correct:
The dog eats.
Incorrect:
My dog eat.

Correct:
My dog eats.
Correct:
The committee are all against it.
Correct:
The e-commerce site.
Correct:
Another beer please.
Correct:
Your money please.
Correct:
The oil leak.

Incorrect:
The dog, whose owner likes you, eat.

Correct:
The dog, whose owner likes you, eats.
Incorrect:
My dog, whose name is Joe, eat.

Correct:
My dog, whose name is Joe, eats.
Correct:
The committee are all against it.

Incorrect:
She asked whether marketing are bad for you.

Correct:
She asked whether marketing is bad for you.
Incorrect:
This is a company where marketing mean a lot of trouble.

Correct:
This is a company where marketing means a lot of trouble.
Correct:
What color are the walls in your room?
Correct:
At about what age do the Japanese marry?
Correct:
To what extent are the ...

Incorrect:
She asked whether marketing, for instance, are bad for you.

Correct:
She asked whether marketing, for instance, is bad for you.
Incorrect:
She asked whether marketing, for example, mean a lot of trouble.

Correct:
She asked whether marketing, for example, means a lot of trouble.

Incorrect:
She wants to know whether this room are big enough.

Correct:
She wants to know whether this room is big enough.
Incorrect:
She wants to know whether your room are big enough.

Correct:
She wants to know whether your room is big enough.
Correct:
She wants to know whether this room is big enough.
Correct:
So I said what the heck try a new battery in the tilt sensor.
Correct:
When the interface clock period is shorter than the largest time difference between signal arrivals, recovery of the transmitted word is no longer possible.

Incorrect:
She wants to know whether this room, for example, are big enough.

Correct:
She wants to know whether this room, for example, is big enough.

Incorrect:
She asked whether the dog eat.

Correct:
She asked whether the dog eats.

Incorrect:
She asked whether the dog, whose owner likes you, eat.

Correct:
She asked whether the dog, whose owner likes you, eats.

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