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Subject-verb agreement is an important concept in the English language and is tested on the GMAT, a standardized test used for admission into graduate management programs. It refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. In other words, the verb must match the number and person of the subject.

For example, in the sentence “The dog barks,” the subject (dog) is singular, so the verb (barks) must also be singular. In the sentence “The dogs bark,” the subject (dogs) is plural, so the verb (bark) must also be plural.

Subject-verb agreement can become confusing when dealing with compound subjects, singular nouns that represent a group, and collective nouns. In the case of compound subjects, the verb must agree with the number of the subject. For example, in the sentence “Mary and John are going to the store,” the compound subject (Mary and John) is plural, so the verb (are) must also be plural.

When dealing with singular nouns that represent a group, the verb can be either singular or plural depending on the context. For example, in the sentence “The team is playing well,” the noun team is singular, but it represents a group, so the verb (is) is also singular. However, in the sentence “The team are arguing about their strategy,” the verb (are) becomes plural because it`s referring to individuals within the group.

Collective nouns refer to a group of individuals but are treated as a singular entity. In this case, the verb must agree with the singular noun. For example, in the sentence “The committee has made a decision,” the noun committee is singular, so the verb (has) must also be singular.

It`s important to note that subject-verb agreement is not only about grammatical correctness but also about effective communication. Incorrect subject-verb agreement can lead to confusion and errors in meaning. For example, in the sentence “The group of people was going to the party,” using the singular verb (was) instead of the plural verb (were) can change the meaning of the sentence. The singular verb implies that the group is a unified entity, while the plural verb indicates multiple individuals within the group.

In conclusion, understanding subject-verb agreement is essential for success on the GMAT and effective communication in general. By paying attention to the number and person of the subject, and taking into account compound subjects, singular nouns that represent a group, and collective nouns, you can ensure grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.