As a copy editor, one of the most important rules to remember is that verbs must always agree with their subject. This means that the verb should take on the same tense, number, and person as the subject of the sentence. Failure to adhere to this rule can result in confusing and grammatically incorrect sentences, which can negatively impact the readability and understanding of your content.
To better understand this rule, let`s break it down further.
Tense
The tense of a verb refers to the time the action in the sentence is taking place. There are three main tenses: past, present, and future. When writing, it`s crucial to choose the correct tense for each sentence so that the meaning comes across clearly.
For example, if the subject is in the present tense, the verb should also be in the present tense. Consider the following sentence:
✔️ My cat loves to play with toys.
In this sentence, “cat” is the subject in the present tense, and “loves” is the verb in the present tense.
Number
The number of a verb refers to whether it is singular or plural. If the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural.
Consider the following sentence:
✔️ She reads a book every day.
In this sentence, “she” is the subject in the singular form, and “reads” is the verb in the singular form.
Now, let`s look at an example where the subject is plural:
✔️ They read books every day.
In this sentence, “they” is the subject in the plural form, and “read” is the verb in the plural form.
Person
The person of a verb refers to who is performing the action in the sentence. There are three persons: first person (I, we), second person (you), and third person (he, she, it, they). The verb should always match the person of the subject.
Consider the following sentence:
✔️ I am writing an article.
In this sentence, “I” is the subject in the first person, and “am writing” is the verb in the first person.
Now, let`s look at an example where the subject is in the third person:
✔️ She is writing an article.
In this sentence, “she” is the subject in the third person, and “is writing” is the verb in the third person.
In conclusion, making sure verbs are in agreement with their subject is essential to creating clear and effective content. By following these rules for tense, number, and person, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and easily understood by your audience.