Fill in the Blanks with Verbs in Agreement with the Subject

Fill in the Blanks with Verbs in Agreement with the Subject

As a copy editor, one of the most common grammar mistakes I encounter is the misuse of verbs that do not agree with the subject. This mistake can seriously impact the readability of a piece of content and even hurt its SEO performance. In this article, we will explore the importance of correctly filling in the blanks with verbs in agreement with the subject.

First off, let’s define what subject-verb agreement means. Simply put, it is the agreement between the subject of a sentence and the verb that goes with it. When the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. Similarly, when the subject is plural, the verb must be plural too. For example:

– Incorrect: The dog and the cat loves to play together.

– Correct: The dog and the cat love to play together.

In the incorrect example, the verb “loves” does not agree with the plural subject “the dog and the cat”, which should be followed by the plural verb “love”.

Subject-verb agreement becomes more complicated when there are intervening phrases or clauses between the subject and the verb. In such cases, it is important to identify the subject and make sure it agrees with the verb. For example:

– Incorrect: Running three miles every day, his endurance have improved.

– Correct: Running three miles every day, he has improved his endurance.

In the incorrect example, the verb “have” does not agree with the singular subject “his endurance”, which is separated from the verb by the intervening phrase “running three miles every day”.

Incorrect subject-verb agreement can not only affect the clarity of writing, but also hurt its SEO performance. Google’s algorithms use various signals to determine the relevance and quality of content, and poor grammar can signal low quality and hurt the ranking of a page.

To avoid this, make sure to always check the subject-verb agreement in your writing. Some tips to help you do so include:

– Identify the subject of the sentence and make sure it agrees with the verb.

– Be aware of intervening phrases and clauses that separate the subject and verb.

– Use singular verbs with singular subjects and plural verbs with plural subjects.

– Avoid using pronouns such as “they” or “it” as singular subjects.

– Double-check your writing for any grammar mistakes using reliable tools and resources.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of good writing and SEO. By filling in the blanks with verbs that agree with the subject, you can ensure that your writing is clear and effective, and that it performs well in search engine rankings.