Agreements in a Sentence: The Importance of Grammar and Syntax

As writers, we know that grammar and syntax are essential elements in effective communication. Proper usage of these elements can make our writing clear, concise, and impactful. In particular, the use of agreements in a sentence plays a crucial role in crafting sentences that are grammatically correct and easy to understand.

Agreements in a sentence refer to the agreement between the subject and predicate of a sentence. In simple terms, the subject and predicate must agree in number and person. For example, if the subject is singular, the predicate must also be singular. Similarly, if the subject is plural, the predicate must be plural too. The same goes for person; the subject and predicate must agree in the first, second, or third person.

One common mistake that writers make is failing to maintain subject-verb agreement. This can lead to grammatically incorrect sentences that are confusing or awkward to read. For instance, consider the following sentence:

“The cat, along with her kittens, enjoy playing in the garden.”

The subject of this sentence is “the cat, along with her kittens,” which is plural. However, the predicate “enjoy” is singular. This disagreement creates a grammatically incorrect sentence, which can be corrected by using the plural form of the verb, “enjoys.”

“The cat, along with her kittens, enjoys playing in the garden.”

Another area where agreements in a sentence are important is in the use of pronouns. Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in gender, number, and person. For example, consider the following sentence:

“Each student should bring their own calculator to the exam.”

Here, the pronoun “their” is plural, while the antecedent “each student” is singular. This again creates a grammatical error, which can be fixed by using a singular pronoun, “his or her.”

“Each student should bring his or her own calculator to the exam.”

In conclusion, agreements in a sentence play a vital role in crafting grammatically correct and easy-to-understand sentences. By paying attention to subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreements, writers can ensure that their writing is clear and effective. So next time you`re writing, make sure to double-check your agreements in sentences and create error-free content.