Agreement collocation is a crucial aspect of English syntax that every writer must be familiar with. It refers to the relationship between a subject and its verb in terms of number and person. The subject and verb must agree in terms of whether they are singular or plural, and whether they are in the first, second, or third person. In this article, we will explore some agreement collocation examples and how they can be used effectively in writing.
1. Singular subject, singular verb
When a sentence has a singular subject, the verb must be singular as well. For example:
– The boy runs to school every day.
In this sentence, the singular subject `boy` agrees with the singular verb `runs`.
2. Plural subject, plural verb
Similarly, when a sentence has a plural subject, the verb must be plural. For example:
– The boys run to school every day.
In this sentence, the plural subject `boys` agrees with the plural verb `run`.
3. Compound subject, plural verb
When a sentence has a compound subject, made up of two or more nouns or pronouns joined by `and`, the verb must be plural. For example:
– Tom and Jerry love playing together.
In this sentence, the compound subject `Tom and Jerry` agrees with the plural verb `love`.
4. Singular subject, plural verb
In some cases, a singular subject can be followed by a plural verb if the subject is seen as a collective noun. For example:
– The team are practicing for the next game.
In this sentence, `team` is seen as a collective noun that represents the group of players, hence the plural verb `are`.
5. Subject-verb agreement with `there` and `here`
When `there` or `here` is used as the subject of a sentence, it is followed by a singular verb. For example:
– There is a cat on the roof.
– Here comes the bus.
In both of these sentences, the singular verb `is` and `comes` agree with the singular subject `cat` and `bus`, respectively.
In conclusion, agreement collocation is an essential aspect of English syntax that must be mastered by every writer. These examples provide a solid foundation for ensuring that subjects and verbs agree in number and person, resulting in clear and concise writing. By understanding how agreement collocation works, writers can create sentences that are grammatically correct and easy to read.
