As a copy editor, it`s important to ensure that written content is grammatically correct and follows the rules of subject-verb agreement. Subject-verb agreement refers to the agreement of the subject and verb in a sentence in terms of number, tense, and person. If these elements don`t agree, the sentence can become unclear and confusing. Here are some tips on how to identify subject-verb agreement:

1. Identify the subject and verb: The first step in identifying subject-verb agreement is to identify the subject and the verb in a sentence. The subject is the main noun or pronoun that the sentence is about, and the verb is the action or state of being that the subject is performing or experiencing.

2. Check for number agreement: Subject-verb agreement requires that the number of the subject and the verb match. If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. For example, “The cat chases the mouse” is correct, but “The cat chase the mouse” is incorrect because “chase” is plural and the subject “cat” is singular.

3. Check for tense agreement: Subject-verb agreement also requires that the tense of the subject and the verb match. If the subject is in the present tense, the verb should also be in the present tense. If the subject is in the past tense, the verb should also be in the past tense. For example, “She walks to work every day” is correct, but “She walked to work every day” is incorrect because “walked” is past tense and the subject “she” is present tense.

4. Check for person agreement: Subject-verb agreement also requires that the person of the subject and the verb match. If the subject is in the first person (I, we), the verb should also be in the first person. If the subject is in the second person (you), the verb should also be in the second person. If the subject is in the third person (he, she, it, they), the verb should also be in the third person. For example, “I am going to the store” is correct, but “I is going to the store” is incorrect because “is” is third person and the subject “I” is first person.

5. Watch out for tricky subjects: Some subjects can be tricky to identify and can throw off subject-verb agreement. For example, collective nouns (e.g. team, family) can be singular or plural depending on the context. “The team is playing well” is correct, but “The team are playing well” is incorrect because “are” is plural and the subject “team” is singular.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your written content has proper subject-verb agreement, making it clear, concise, and grammatically correct.