Which Of These Pairings Is Correct

Which of These Pairings is Correct? Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement and Parallel Structure

Choosing the correct pairing of words, phrases, or clauses hinges on understanding fundamental grammatical concepts. This article delves into two crucial areas – subject-verb agreement and parallel structure – explaining why certain pairings are correct while others are incorrect. We’ll explore these concepts with numerous examples, ensuring you can confidently identify and correct grammatical errors in your own writing.

Subject-Verb Agreement: The Foundation of Grammatical Accuracy

Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule requiring a verb to agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. This seemingly simple rule often trips up writers, especially when dealing with complex sentence structures or unusual subjects.

1. Singular Subjects Take Singular Verbs:

• Correct: The dog barks loudly.
• Incorrect: The dog bark loudly.

Here, "dog" is a singular subject, requiring the singular verb "barks."

2. Plural Subjects Take Plural Verbs:

• Correct: The dogs bark loudly.
• Incorrect: The dogs barks loudly.

Here, "dogs" is a plural subject, requiring the plural verb "bark."

3. Tricky Subjects: Collective Nouns, Indefinite Pronouns, and Compound Subjects

Things get more complex when dealing with:

• Collective Nouns: Nouns that refer to a group (e.g., team, family, committee). These can be singular or plural depending on whether the group acts as a unit or as individuals.

  • Correct (Singular): The team is playing well. (The team acts as one unit)
  • Correct (Plural): The team are arguing amongst themselves. (The team members are acting individually)

• Indefinite Pronouns: Pronouns like anyone, everyone, someone, somebody, no one, nobody are always singular.

  • Correct: Everyone is invited to the party.
  • Incorrect: Everyone are invited to the party.

• Compound Subjects: Subjects joined by "and" are usually plural. However, if they refer to the same thing, the subject is singular.

  • Correct (Plural): My brother and sister are coming for dinner.
  • Correct (Singular): My brother and best friend is the same person.

• Subjects Joined by "or" or "nor": The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

  • Correct: Neither the cats nor the dog is allowed inside.
  • Correct: Neither the dog nor the cats are allowed inside.

4. Intervening Phrases: Don't be misled by phrases that come between the subject and the verb. The verb still agrees with the subject.

• Correct: The box of chocolates, along with the flowers, is a perfect gift. ("Box" is the subject)

5. Inverted Sentence Structure: In sentences where the verb comes before the subject (e.g., questions), pay close attention to subject-verb agreement.

• Correct: There are many reasons for this decision. ("Reasons" is the subject)

Parallel Structure: Maintaining Balance and Clarity

Parallel structure, also known as parallelism, involves using the same grammatical structure for items in a list, series, or comparison. Maintaining parallel structure ensures clarity, readability, and a more professional tone in your writing.

1. Parallelism in Lists:

• Incorrect: I enjoy swimming, to hike, and reading.

  • Here, we have a gerund ("swimming"), an infinitive ("to hike"), and a gerund ("reading"). This is inconsistent.

• Correct: I enjoy swimming, hiking, and reading. (All gerunds)

• Correct: I enjoy to swim, to hike, and to read. (All infinitives)

2. Parallelism in Comparisons:

• Incorrect: She is taller than her brother is strong.

  • This compares height ("taller") with strength ("strong"), using different grammatical structures.

• Correct: She is taller than her brother is tall. (Both adjectives)

• Correct: She is as tall as her brother is. (Both use "as...as" structure)

3. Parallelism with Correlative Conjunctions:

Correlative conjunctions like both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also require parallel structure.

• Incorrect: He is not only intelligent but also he is hardworking.
• Correct: He is not only intelligent but also hardworking. (Both are adjectives)

4. Parallelism in Compound Sentences:

Parallelism enhances clarity in compound sentences, particularly those joined by coordinating conjunctions (e.g., and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet).

• Incorrect: The dog barked loudly, and the cat hissed angrily at the stranger. (Verb followed by an adverbial phrase and just a verb in the second clause)
• Correct: The dog barked loudly, and the cat hissed menacingly at the stranger. (Both clauses end with adverbial phrases)

5. Common Errors to Avoid:

• Mixing Gerunds and Infinitives: Avoid mixing gerunds (verb + -ing) and infinitives (to + verb).
• Inconsistent Adjective Forms: Maintain consistency in the form of adjectives (e.g., comparative, superlative).
• Unequal Comparisons: Ensure that comparisons are made between similar items using the same grammatical structure.

Putting it All Together: Advanced Examples

Let's examine more complex sentences to solidify our understanding of subject-verb agreement and parallel structure.

Example 1:

• Incorrect: The committee, despite their disagreements, are voting on the proposal.
• Correct: The committee, despite their disagreements, is voting on the proposal. ("Committee" is singular unless explicitly referring to individuals within the committee acting separately)

Example 2:

• Incorrect: Her hobbies include knitting, to paint, and gardening.
• Correct: Her hobbies include knitting, painting, and gardening. (All gerunds)

Example 3:

• Incorrect: He is not only kind to animals but also he volunteers at the shelter regularly.
• Correct: He is not only kind to animals but also volunteers at the shelter regularly. (Both are verb phrases)

Example 4:

• Incorrect: The report states that sales have increased significantly, and profits are improving dramatically.
• Correct: The report states that sales have increased significantly, and profits are improving dramatically. (Both are complete verb phrases, each describing a change)

By carefully analyzing these examples, you can see how errors in subject-verb agreement and parallel structure can lead to confusion and awkward phrasing. Mastering these grammatical rules will significantly enhance the clarity and professionalism of your writing.

Conclusion: Precision in Language Matters

Subject-verb agreement and parallel structure are fundamental building blocks of clear and effective writing. By consistently applying these rules, you'll avoid common grammatical errors and produce polished, professional work. Regular practice and careful attention to detail are key to mastering these concepts, leading to improved writing quality and a stronger communication style. Remember that precise language is essential for conveying your ideas effectively and building credibility with your readers. So, the next time you're crafting a sentence, take a moment to check for subject-verb agreement and parallel structure – your readers will thank you for it!