Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of writing that determines the clarity of the message conveyed. In English language grammar, the verb of the sentence should agree in number with the subject. When it comes to the family, subject-verb agreement may get tricky, resulting in grammatical errors. In this article, we will discuss the rules of subject-verb agreement with family members.
Rule 1: A singular subject must have a singular verb, and a plural subject must have a plural verb.
Example: My family loves to travel.
In this sentence, the subject ‘my family’ is singular, and the verb ‘loves’ is also singular. The sentence makes perfect sense because the verb agrees with the subject.
Rule 2: When the family is referred to as a group, a singular verb is used.
Example: The family is going on a vacation.
In this sentence, the word ‘family’ refers to a single group, and hence, the verb ‘is’ is used.
Rule 3: When family members are referred to as individuals, a plural verb is used.
Example: My sisters are coming to visit me.
In this sentence, the word ‘sisters’ refers to multiple individuals, and hence, the verb ‘are’ is used.
Rule 4: When a collective noun is used to refer to family members, it is considered singular.
Example: The entire family enjoys playing board games.
In this sentence, the word ‘family’ is used as a collective noun, referring to all the family members. Hence, the verb ‘enjoys’ is singular.
Rule 5: When the subject of the sentence is a compound subject with family members, a plural verb is used.
Example: My dad and my sister are watching TV.
In this sentence, the compound subject ‘dad and sister’ is plural, and hence, the verb ‘are’ is also plural.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement with family members follows standard rules of grammar. It is essential to pay attention to the subject and verb agreement while writing about family members to ensure that your message is clear and grammatically correct. By following the rules highlighted above, you can avoid subject-verb agreement errors in your writing.