Vary in agreement is a concept in grammar that many writers and editors struggle with, but it is essential to master in order to produce clear, concise, and effective content. The basic idea behind vary in agreement is that the subject and the verb of a sentence must agree in terms of singular or plural form. This agreement is necessary to ensure that the sentence makes sense and is grammatically correct.
For example, consider the following sentence:
The cat is sleeping on the mat.
In this sentence, the subject is “cat,” which is singular, and the verb is “is,” which is also singular. The subject and verb agree in singular form, making the sentence grammatically correct. Now, consider this sentence:
The cats is sleeping on the mat.
In this sentence, the subject is “cats,” which is plural, but the verb is “is,” which is singular. The subject and verb do not agree in number, making the sentence grammatically incorrect. To correct this error, we need to change the verb to its plural form:
The cats are sleeping on the mat.
Now the subject and verb agree in plural form, making the sentence grammatically correct.
Being mindful of vary in agreement is especially important in longer or more complex sentences, where it can be easy to lose track of the subject and verb. Consider the following sentence:
The group of students that studies together are meeting at the library.
In this sentence, the subject is “group,” which is singular, but the verb is “are,” which is plural. The subject and verb do not agree in number, making the sentence grammatically incorrect. To correct this error, we need to change the verb to its singular form:
The group of students that studies together is meeting at the library.
Now the subject and verb agree in singular form, making the sentence grammatically correct.
Vary in agreement can also be important in SEO, as search engines are designed to favor content that is well-written and grammatically correct. In addition, using incorrect grammar can make your content appear less professional and could potentially damage your reputation.
To avoid errors in vary in agreement, it’s important to pay careful attention to subject-verb agreement and to double-check your work for errors. If you’re unsure about whether a subject and verb agree in number, a grammar checker or a style guide can be helpful resources. By mastering vary in agreement, you can ensure that your content is clear, effective, and grammatically correct.