Which of the following Contains an Error in Subject-Verb Agreement Quizlet

Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of English grammar. It refers to the relationship between the subject and the verb in a sentence. The subject and the verb must agree in number, which means that a singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb. Unfortunately, subject-verb agreement errors are quite common in writing. In this article, we will focus on a quizlet that contains examples of subject-verb agreement errors, and we will identify the one that contains an error.

But before we dive into the quizlet, let`s review the basic rules of subject-verb agreement. Most of us learn this in elementary school, but it`s always good to refresh our memory. Here are the basic rules:

– A singular subject takes a singular verb. For example: She sings well.

– A plural subject takes a plural verb. For example: They sing well.

– Singular indefinite pronouns (such as anyone, everyone, someone, nobody) take a singular verb. For example: Everyone knows the answer.

– Plural indefinite pronouns (such as both, few, several) take a plural verb. For example: Both of them are correct.

– Compound subjects that are joined by „and” take a plural verb. For example: John and Mary like to dance.

– Collective nouns (such as team, group, family) take a singular verb when the emphasis is on the group as a whole. For example: The team is playing well. However, if the emphasis is on the individual members, a plural verb can be used. For example: The team are arguing among themselves.

Now, let`s take a look at the quizlet. Here are the five examples:

1. The dog barks loudly at night.

2. My friends and I are going to the concert.

3. The book on the table needs to be returned to the library.

4. The boy who won the race is my neighbor.

5. The committee have not yet decided on a course of action.

At first glance, all five examples seem to be correct in terms of subject-verb agreement. However, upon closer inspection, we can see that the last example contains an error. „Committee” is a collective noun, but the verb „have” is plural. This is a common mistake because many people assume that collective nouns always take a plural verb. However, as we mentioned earlier, collective nouns can take a singular verb when the emphasis is on the group as a whole. Therefore, the correct sentence would be: The committee has not yet decided on a course of action.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of good writing. It`s important to remember the basic rules and to pay attention to collective nouns. By avoiding subject-verb agreement errors, you can make your writing clearer, more professional, and more effective.