Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of English grammar that cannot be ignored. It is the foundation of clear communication in any written or spoken language. Subject-verb agreement refers to the relationship between the subject and the verb in a sentence. It means that the verb must agree with the number (singular or plural) of the subject. This article will discuss subject-verb agreement patterns that are commonly used in English.

1. Singular subjects: When the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb must also be singular. For example, «The dog barks at the mailman.» In this sentence, the subject «dog» is singular, and the verb «barks» is also singular.

2. Plural subjects: When the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb must also be plural. For example, «The dogs bark at the mailman.» In this sentence, the subject «dogs» is plural, and the verb «bark» is also plural.

3. Collective nouns: Collective nouns are singular nouns that refer to a group of things or people. When a collective noun is used as the subject of a sentence, the verb can be either singular or plural, depending on how the writer wants to express the idea. For example, «The team is working hard on the project.» In this sentence, the collective noun «team» is used as a singular subject, and the verb «is working» agrees with it. Alternatively, «The team are arguing about the best approach.» In this sentence, the collective noun «team» is used as a plural subject, and the verb «are arguing» agrees with it.

4. Indefinite pronouns: Indefinite pronouns, such as «everyone,» «anyone,» «someone,» «no one,» etc., are singular and require the use of a singular verb. For example, «Everyone is invited to the party.»

5. Compound subjects: Compound subjects are subjects that consist of two or more nouns or pronouns joined by «and.» When a compound subject is used, the verb must be plural. For example, «Tom and Jerry are playing soccer.»

6. Indefinite pronoun and noun: When an indefinite pronoun is used with a noun, the verb agrees with the noun. For example, «Both the boys are playing.»

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar that cannot be ignored. Understanding the different patterns of subject-verb agreement will help you to write clear and effective sentences. Remember that the subject and the verb must always agree in number, whether the subject is singular, plural, collective, or indefinite. Keep these patterns in mind, and you`ll be well on your way to crafting well-written and grammatically correct sentences.