First-Year English FAQs
There are also errors in sentence construction between the subject and its verb. If there is a singular subject, there must be a singular verb. If there is a plural subject, there must be a plural verb. Errors in subject verb agreement usually occur because there is a confusing subject, one in which it is difficult to determine if the subject is singular or plural.
Example of a Sentence in Which the Subject Does Not Agree with the Verb:
A lobbyist group (singular subject) claim (plural verb) that we should give up the fight to pass this bill.
Corrected Example:
A lobbyist group (singular subject) claims (singular verb) that we should give up the fight to pass this bill.
In this example, the subject is singular, but on occasion the noun "group" might also be regarded as a plural subject, thus causing the writer to make the wrong verb choice in the sentence.