Verbs are essential components of sentences, and they play a critical role in transmitting the intended message. However, it is crucial to ensure that the verb agrees with its subject. In this article, we will discuss the importance of verb agreement in the simple present tense.

The simple present tense is used to describe actions that are happening now or actions that occur repeatedly. The verb in a sentence in the simple present tense should agree with the subject in terms of both number and person.

Number agreement in the simple present tense requires that the verb is singular when the subject is singular, and plural when the subject is plural. For example, the sentence “He runs every day” uses the singular form of the verb “run” to agree with the singular subject “he.” On the other hand, the sentence “They run every day” uses the plural form of the verb “run” to agree with the plural subject “they.”

Person agreement in the simple present tense requires that the verb agrees with the person of the subject. For example, the sentence “I walk every day” uses the first-person singular form of the verb “walk” to agree with the first-person singular subject “I.” Similarly, the sentence “She walks every day” uses the third-person singular form of the verb “walk” to agree with the third-person singular subject “she.”

While it may seem simple, incorrect verb agreement can alter the meaning of a sentence, leading to confusion or misinterpretation. For instance, consider the sentence “The dog barks at the cat every day.” If we were to change the verb to “bark” to “barks,” we would change the meaning of the sentence. “The dog bark at the cat every day” implies that multiple dogs bark at the cat, while “The dog barks at the cat every day” states that one dog consistently barks at the cat.

In conclusion, verb agreement in the simple present tense is essential to ensure that our writing communicates the intended message. We must ensure that the verb agrees with the subject in both number and person to avoid any confusion or ambiguity. As copy editors, it is our responsibility to pay attention to these details to ensure that our writing is clear, concise, and effective in communicating the intended message.