Verb Disagreement Definition

Verb Disagreement Definition: Understanding the Basics

As a copy editor, one of the essential skills to master is ensuring proper grammar usage. Among the many grammatical rules, verb agreement is a fundamental concept to understand. Verb disagreement is a common mistake that can affect the clarity and coherence of your writing. Therefore, it is crucial to learn the basic definition of verb disagreement and how to avoid it in your writing.

What is Verb Disagreement?

Verb disagreement occurs when the subject and verb in a sentence do not agree in number. In simple terms, if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. For example:

Incorrect: The book on the table is interesting.

Correct: The books on the table are interesting.

In the incorrect sentence, “book” is singular, and the verb “is” is singular. However, “books” is plural in the corrected sentence, and the verb “are” is plural. This example demonstrates how verb disagreement can affect writing, leading to confusion and incorrect communication.

Types of Verb Disagreement

There are two types of verb disagreement: number disagreement and tense disagreement.

Number disagreement occurs when the subject and verb in a sentence do not agree in number. This error can lead to confusion, as readers may struggle to understand the subject`s number. For example,

Incorrect: The group of people was singing loudly.

Correct: The group of people were singing loudly.

In the incorrect sentence, “group” is singular, and the verb “was” is singular. However, “people” is plural, and the corrected sentence uses the plural form of the verb “were.”

Tense disagreement, on the other hand, occurs when the verb tense does not match the time frame of the sentence. This error can cause confusion as readers may struggle to understand when an action took place. For example,

Incorrect: I was eating when he come home.

Correct: I was eating when he came home.

In the incorrect sentence, the past tense of the verb “come” does not match the past continuous tense of “was eating.” The corrected sentence uses the same past tense for both verbs, making the sentence clear and coherent.

How to Avoid Verb Disagreement

To avoid verb disagreement, always ensure that the subject and verb agree in number and tense. Pay close attention to the number of the subject and choose the correct form of the verb. If the subject is singular, use a singular verb, and if it`s plural, use a plural verb. Additionally, ensure that the verb tense matches the time frame of the sentence.

Final Thoughts

Verb disagreement is a common error that can easily slip into writing if not careful. As a copy editor, mastering this fundamental concept is essential to ensuring clarity and coherence in writing. Understanding the definition of verb disagreement and how to avoid it is crucial for effective communication in professional and personal writing.