As a copy editor, one of the most common errors I encounter in writing is faulty subject-verb agreement. This error occurs when the subject and verb do not agree in terms of number – that is, if the subject is singular, the verb should be in the singular form, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be in the plural form. Here are some examples of faulty subject-verb agreement to watch out for:
1. The team of players are ready to start the game.
This sentence contains a singular subject (team) but uses a plural verb (are). To correct this, the verb should be changed to the singular form: “The team of players is ready to start the game.”
2. Every one of the books were missing from the library shelf.
In this sentence, the subject is “every one” which is singular, but the verb “were” is plural. The correct verb form should be “was”: “Every one of the books was missing from the library shelf.”
3. None of the students in the class knows the answer.
“None” can be either singular or plural, but it is treated as singular when referring to people or things that are not considered as a group. Therefore, the verb in this sentence should be “knows,” not “know.”
4. The group of runners are jogging in the park.
Similar to the first example, this sentence uses a singular subject (group) but uses a plural verb (are). To correct this, the verb should be changed to the singular form: “The group of runners is jogging in the park.”
5. The number of people attending the concert have increased.
In this sentence, the subject “number” is singular, but the verb “have” is plural. To correct it, the verb should be changed to the singular form: “The number of people attending the concert has increased.”
Faulty subject-verb agreement can be easily corrected by paying close attention to the subject and verb agreement. Always ensure that these two elements agree in number, and your writing will be more clear, concise, and professional.