Agreement: A Simple Explanation
Agreement is a grammatical term that refers to the concept that the various elements of a sentence must agree with one another in order to create a coherent and grammatically correct construction. Essentially, agreement ensures that all components of a sentence are in harmony with one another in terms of person, number, gender, and tense.
Person Agreement
Person agreement refers to the grammatical concept that subjects and verbs in a sentence must agree in terms of who is performing the action or being described. For example, if the subject of a sentence is in third person (he, she, it), the verb must also be in third person (he walks, she talks, it is raining).
Number Agreement
Number agreement refers to the grammatical concept that subjects and verbs in a sentence must agree in terms of whether they are singular or plural. If the subject is singular (one person, place, or thing), the verb must also be singular (the dog chases the ball). Conversely, if the subject is plural (more than one person, place, or thing), the verb must also be plural (the dogs chase the ball).
Gender Agreement
Gender agreement refers to the grammatical concept that pronouns and nouns must agree in gender, specifically masculine, feminine, or neuter. For example, if a sentence refers to a woman (feminine), any pronouns that refer to her must also be feminine (she, her, herself).
Tense Agreement
Tense agreement refers to the grammatical concept that verbs must agree with the time period in which the action occurred. For example, if a sentence is written in the past tense (yesterday, last week), all verbs must be in the past tense as well (I walked to the store).
In conclusion, agreement is an essential concept in grammar and writing, ensuring that all components of a sentence work together harmoniously. By understanding and applying the concepts of person, number, gender, and tense agreement, writers can create grammatically correct and effective sentences.