Subject/Verb Agreement
Lexical Resource & Grammatical Range and AccuracyIELTS Academic Writing Task 1
In the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, demonstrating strong Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy is crucial for achieving a high score.
One key aspect of grammatical accuracy is subject/verb agreement. Subject/verb agreement refers to ensuring that the subject of a sentence agrees in number with the verb.
In this article, we will explore the importance of subject/verb agreement in Task 1, accompanied by examples and answers to help you understand and apply this concept effectively.
1. Singular Subjects and Verbs:
When the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb must also be singular.
Example:
Original Sentence:
The student study in the library.
Revised Sentence:
The student studies in the library.
In the revised sentence, the singular subject “student” correctly matches the singular verb “studies.”
2. Plural Subjects and Verbs:
When the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb must also be plural.
Example:
Original Sentence:
The students study in the library.
Revised Sentence:
The students study in the library.
In the revised sentence, the plural subject “students” correctly matches the plural verb “study.”
3. Indefinite Pronouns:
Indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone,” “somebody,” or “each,” are considered singular and require singular verbs.
Example:
Original Sentence:
Everybody has their own opinion.
Revised Sentence:
Everybody has his or her own opinion. / Everybody has their own opinion.
In the revised sentence, the singular indefinite pronoun “everybody” correctly matches the singular possessive pronoun “his or her.”
4. Collective Nouns:
Collective nouns, such as “team,” “family,” or “government,” can be singular or plural, depending on the context.
Example:
Original Sentence:
The team are training hard.
Revised Sentence:
The team is training hard.
In the revised sentence, the collective noun “team” is considered a singular entity and matched with the singular verb “is.”
5. Compound Subjects:
When two or more subjects are joined by “and,” the verb should be plural.
Example:
Original Sentence:
Mary and John is going to the park.
Revised Sentence:
Mary and John are going to the park.
In the revised sentence, the compound subjects “Mary and John” correctly match the plural verb “are.”
6. Inverted Sentences:
In sentences with the subject after the verb, maintain subject/verb agreement.
Example:
Original Sentence:
There is many books on the shelf.
Revised Sentence:
There are many books on the shelf.
In the revised sentence, the subject “books” is plural, and the verb “are” agrees in number.
Subject/verb agreement is crucial for achieving accuracy in your writing. By understanding the rules of subject/verb agreement and applying them effectively, you can showcase your grammatical proficiency in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1.
Practice identifying the subject and verb in sentences and ensuring they agree in number.
With consistent practice and attention to detail, you will excel in Task 1 and achieve success in your IELTS examination.
Good Luck!
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