Subject-verb agreement refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in number and person. The subject and verb must agree with each other in terms of being singular or plural and in terms of person – first, second or third. Failing to follow this agreement can lead to miscommunication and confusion in writing. In this article, we will discuss the importance of subject-verb agreement in Spanish and how to ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct.
In Spanish, like in English, the subject and the verb must agree in number. For example, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. This rule also applies to the third person singular, which includes he, she or it. For example, “él canta” (he sings) and “ella baila” (she dances) both have the third person singular form of the verb.
In addition to number, subject-verb agreement in Spanish also has to do with the grammatical person. The person refers to whether the subject is first, second or third person. If the subject is first person, then the verb must also be in first person. The same rule applies to second person and third person.
An example of a sentence with correct subject-verb agreement in Spanish is “Yo estudio español” (I study Spanish). The subject, “yo” (I), is first person, singular. The verb, “estudio” (study), is also first person, singular. Another example is “Ellos comen pizza” (They eat pizza), where the subject, “ellos” (they), is third person, plural and the verb, “comen” (eat), agrees in number and person.
It is important to note that in Spanish, there are some irregular verbs that do not follow the regular rules of subject-verb agreement. For example, the verb “ser” (to be) has irregular conjugations in different tenses, such as “soy” (I am) and “eres” (you are). It is important to memorize these irregular verbs and their conjugations in order to properly apply subject-verb agreement in Spanish.
The use of subject-verb agreement in Spanish is crucial for effective communication. If the subject and the verb do not agree in number and person, the sentence can be confusing or even misleading. By following the rules of subject-verb agreement, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and your ideas are conveyed clearly.