What is agreement in English? List the various agreements in English grammar
STEM (sometimes called Root or Base) the main part of a Word to which Endings are added.
In English grammar, “agreement” (also called concord) means that different parts of a sentence must match in person, number, gender, or case to ensure grammatical harmony. The most common type is subject–verb agreement, but there are several others that govern how words fit together.
📚 Types of Agreement in English Grammar
1. Subject–Verb Agreement
- The verb must agree with the subject in number (singular/plural) and person.
- Examples:
- She plays soccer. (singular subject → singular verb)
- They play soccer. (plural subject → plural verb)
2. Pronoun–Antecedent Agreement
- A pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the noun it replaces) in number and gender.
- Examples:
- Every student must bring his or her book.
- The dogs wagged their tails.
3. Number Agreement
- Words must match in singular/plural form.
- Examples:
- This book is interesting.
- These books are interesting.
4. Person Agreement
- Verbs and pronouns must align with the grammatical person (first, second, third).
- Examples:
- I am (first person singular).
- He is (third person singular).
- They are (third person plural).
5. Gender Agreement
- Though less prominent in English than in languages like French or Spanish, pronouns must agree with the gender of their antecedent.
- Examples:
- John said he was tired.
- Mary said she was tired.
6. Case Agreement
- Pronouns must agree in case (subjective, objective, possessive).
- Examples:
- She likes him. (subject pronoun she with object pronoun him)
- This is her book. (possessive pronoun her)
🧠 Why Agreement Matters
- Clarity: Ensures sentences are easy to understand.
- Correctness: Prevents grammatical errors like “He go to school” instead of “He goes to school.”
- Style: Makes writing polished and professional.
✅ Quick Summary Table
| Type of Agreement | What Matches | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject–Verb | Subject ↔ Verb | She runs / They run |
| Pronoun–Antecedent | Pronoun ↔ Noun | The boy lost his book |
| Number | Singular ↔ Plural | This book / These books |
| Person | Pronoun ↔ Verb | I am / He is |
| Gender | Pronoun ↔ Antecedent | Mary said she… |
| Case | Pronoun ↔ Function | She likes him |
👉 Would you like me to create a set of practice exercises (with answers) where you identify and correct agreement errors in sentences? That’s the best way to master these rules.
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