As a copy editor, it is essential to have a good understanding of the rules of agreement in the English language. Grammatical errors can detract from the quality of any written work, and agreement is a crucial aspect of grammar. This article will discuss the rules of agreement in English and provide examples to help you identify them when editing.

Subject-Verb Agreement

One of the most important rules of agreement in English is subject-verb agreement. In this rule, the verb in a sentence must agree with the subject in terms of number and person. For example:

– The boy runs to the park. (Singular subject – “boy”; singular verb – “runs”)

– The boys run to the park. (Plural subject – “boys”; plural verb – “run”)

Note that in the second sentence, the verb changes from “runs” to “run” to agree with the plural subject “boys.”

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Another crucial rule of agreement in English is pronoun-antecedent agreement. In this rule, the pronoun used in a sentence must agree with its antecedent in terms of gender and number. For example:

– She is going to the store. (Feminine antecedent – “she”)

– He is going to the store. (Masculine antecedent – “he”)

– They are going to the store. (Plural antecedent – “they”)

Note that in each of these sentences, the pronoun agrees with the antecedent in terms of gender and number.

Adjective-Noun Agreement

Agreement between adjectives and nouns is another significant rule in English grammar. In this rule, adjectives modify nouns and must agree with the noun in terms of number, gender, and case. For example:

– A pretty girl (Singular feminine noun – “girl”; singular feminine adjective – “pretty”)

– Two pretty girls (Plural feminine noun – “girls”; plural feminine adjective – “pretty”)

Note that in the second sentence, the adjective “pretty” changes from singular to plural to agree with the plural noun “girls.”

Conclusion

The rules of agreement in English grammar are critical for any copy editor. Incorrect agreement can result in grammatical errors that detract from the quality of written work. As a copy editor, familiarize yourself with these rules and use them to identify agreement errors in any text you edit. By doing so, you can help ensure that the writing you work on is clear, concise, and free from grammatical errors.