2021/12/30 | 便利屋Reレンジャー | 未分類
Proofreading Sentences for Subject-Verb Agreement: An Essential Skill for Copy Editors
As a copy editor, one of the most important tasks you have is ensuring that the written material you work on is grammatically correct. This is particularly true when it comes to subject-verb agreement, an aspect of grammar that can easily be overlooked but can have a significant impact on the overall quality of a written piece.
Subject-verb agreement refers to the matching of the subject of a sentence with the correct verb tense. For example, “The dog barks” is correct because the subject “dog” is singular and the verb “barks” agrees with it. However, “The dogs bark” is incorrect because the subject “dogs” is plural while the verb “bark” is singular.
The importance of subject-verb agreement cannot be overstated. When this rule is violated, it can obscure the intended meaning of the sentence, make it difficult to understand, and even result in a loss of credibility or authority for the writer. Therefore, it is essential for copy editors to become well-versed in this aspect of grammar and to be able to effectively proofread sentences for subject-verb agreement.
Here are some tips to help you improve your skill in proofreading sentences for subject-verb agreement:
1. Identify the subject of the sentence.
The subject of the sentence is the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about. It`s important to identify the subject correctly as it determines the form of the verb that should be used in the sentence. For example, in the sentence “The cat is sleeping,” the subject is “cat,” and the verb is “is” because the subject is singular.
2. Determine the number of the subject.
The number of the subject – whether it`s singular or plural – is essential in determining the form of the verb that should be used in the sentence. For example, the sentence “The dog barks” is correct because the subject “dog” is singular, while the sentence “The dogs bark” is incorrect because the subject “dogs” is plural.
3. Ensure the verb agrees with the subject.
Once you`ve identified the subject and determined its number, the next step is to ensure that the verb agrees with the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb should be in singular form, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be in plural form. For example, the sentence “The team is playing well” is correct because the subject “team” is singular, while the sentence “The team are playing well” is incorrect because the verb “are” is plural, and it doesn`t agree with the singular subject “team.”
4. Check for subject-verb agreement in compound sentences.
In some cases, a sentence may have a compound subject – that is, a subject that consists of two or more nouns or pronouns. In such cases, the verb should agree with the number of the compound subject. For example, the sentence “Tom and Jerry are friends” is correct because the compound subject “Tom and Jerry” is plural, while the sentence “Tom and Jerry is friends” is incorrect because the verb “is” is singular, and it doesn`t agree with the plural subject “Tom and Jerry.”
In conclusion, proofreading for subject-verb agreement is an essential skill for copy editors. By following the tips outlined above and paying close attention to detail, you can ensure that the written material you work on is grammatically correct, clear, and effective. Remember, subject-verb agreement can make or break the credibility of a piece of writing, so always take the time to check and double-check for accuracy.