Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of the English language, and mastering this rule is a crucial skill for any business professional. In business English, subject-verb agreement is particularly important as it ensures clear communication and professionalism in written and spoken communication.

What is subject-verb agreement?

Subject-verb agreement refers to the grammatical rule that the subject of a sentence must agree with the verb in number. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

For example:

Incorrect: The team are working on the project.

Correct: The team is working on the project.

Incorrect: The company have hired new employees.

Correct: The company has hired new employees.

Tips for subject-verb agreement in business English

1. Identify the subject

The first step to ensuring subject-verb agreement in business English is to identify the subject of the sentence. This may seem straightforward, but sometimes identifying the subject can be tricky, especially in complex sentences.

For example:

Incorrect: The sales report, as well as the presentation, were completed yesterday.

Correct: The sales report, as well as the presentation, was completed yesterday.

In this example, the subject is „sales report,” which is singular, so the verb „was” must also be singular.

2. Pay attention to collective nouns

Collective nouns, such as „team,” „committee,” and „company,” refer to a group of people or things as a single unit. When using collective nouns in a sentence, it is important to remember that they are singular and require a singular verb.

For example:

Incorrect: The committee are discussing the proposal.

Correct: The committee is discussing the proposal.

3. Be cautious with compound subjects

Compound subjects are two or more subjects that are joined by „and.” When using compound subjects in a sentence, the verb should be plural.

For example:

Incorrect: The sales manager and the marketing director is attending the conference.

Correct: The sales manager and the marketing director are attending the conference.

4. Consider pronouns

When using pronouns as the subject of a sentence, it is important to ensure they agree with the verb in number.

For example:

Incorrect: They has completed the project.

Correct: They have completed the project.

Summary

In business English, subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear, professional communication. By identifying the subject of a sentence, paying attention to collective nouns, being cautious with compound subjects, and considering pronouns, you can ensure that your written and spoken communication is grammatically correct and effective.