Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of English grammar that, if not followed correctly, can affect the clarity and coherence of a sentence. Whenever we construct a sentence, we need to ensure that the subject and verb agree in number, i.e., singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs. In this article, we will discuss the fundamentals of subject-verb agreement and how it can impact a sentence`s meaning and SEO.
The basics of subject-verb agreement
To begin with, let us take an example of a sentence that demonstrates subject-verb agreement:
The cat chases the mouse.
In this sentence, the subject (cat) is singular, and the verb (chases) is also singular. Both agree in number, making the sentence grammatically correct.
However, if we rephrase the sentence as, “The cat chase the mouse,” the verb and subject no longer agree in number. Here, the verb is plural, while the subject is singular. Such errors in subject-verb agreement can change the sentence`s meaning and confuse the reader.
Similarly, if we have a plural subject, we follow the same rule and use a plural verb:
The cats chase the mouse.
Here, both the subject (cats) and the verb (chase) are plural, agreeing with each other in number.
How subject-verb agreement affects SEO
Content creators must keep subject-verb agreement in mind while writing content for websites as it can impact the website`s SEO. Search engines are continually expanding their ability to understand and evaluate written content from a grammar and linguistic perspective. Writing grammatically correct sentences with proper subject-verb agreement can help search engines better understand the content, leading to higher rankings in search results.
Furthermore, if the content contains a lot of errors, it may project an unprofessional image, making the website appear unreliable and untrustworthy. Search engines may downgrade the website`s ranking due to poor-quality content, causing a decrease in traffic and visitors.
Tips for maintaining subject-verb agreement
To ensure proper subject-verb agreement, content creators should keep the following tips in mind:
1. Identify the subject of the sentence and ensure it agrees with the verb in number.
2. Pay attention to subject-verb agreement, particularly when using compound subjects, indefinite pronouns, and collective nouns.
3. Use a singular verb with a singular subject, even when other nouns follow the subject.
4. Be careful when using inverted sentences or questions where the subject comes after the verb.
5. Proofread the content after writing to identify any errors in subject-verb agreement.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of English grammar that can greatly affect the clarity and coherence of a sentence. By maintaining proper subject-verb agreement, content creators can create high-quality content that is easy to read and understand and ranks well in search engines.