Subject-verb agreement can be tricky, but it’s an important step to take when writing any piece of content. In this article, we’ll discuss rules 3 and 4 for subject-verb agreement, so that you can avoid common mistakes and ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and optimized for SEO.

Rule #3: Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things. They are singular in form but refer to multiple individuals. Examples of collective nouns include team, family, herd, and group. When using a collective noun as the subject of a sentence, it’s important to remember that it should be treated as a singular noun.

For example, “The team is playing well this season” is correct, whereas “The team are playing well this season” is incorrect. Similarly, “My family is planning a vacation” is correct, whereas “My family are planning a vacation” is incorrect.

Rule #4: Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to people, places, or things in a general sense without specifying who or what they are. Examples of indefinite pronouns include everyone, somebody, nobody, and anyone. These pronouns can be tricky because they can be either singular or plural, depending on their usage.

When using an indefinite pronoun as the subject of a sentence, you should pay attention to the pronoun’s meaning. If it means “each person individually,” it is singular, and you should use a singular verb. If it means “more than one person,” it is plural, and you should use a plural verb.

For example, “Everyone is responsible for their own actions” is correct, whereas “Everyone are responsible for their own actions” is incorrect. Similarly, “Somebody is knocking at the door” is correct, whereas “Somebody are knocking at the door” is incorrect.

By following these subject-verb agreement rules, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and optimized for SEO. Whether you’re writing a blog post, a product description, or any other type of content, taking the time to check your subject-verb agreement can make a big difference in your search engine rankings and the clarity of your message.