Noun verb agreement is a grammatical rule that refers to the proper match between a subject`s noun and the accompanying verb in a sentence. This rule helps to ensure clarity, accuracy, and readability in written and spoken language.

In English, a singular noun typically requires a singular verb, and a plural noun requires a plural verb. For example, “The dog chases the ball” is a correct sentence because “dog” is a singular noun, and “chases” is a singular verb. However, “The dogs chase the ball” is also correct because “dogs” is a plural noun, and “chase” is a plural verb.

When there is a disagreement between the noun and verb, the sentence becomes grammatically incorrect and can be confusing for the reader. For instance, “The cat walks to the window” is correct, while “The cat walk to the window” is incorrect because “cat” is a singular subject and “walk” is a plural verb.

It is also essential to ensure that the noun and verb are in agreement when using compound subjects. A compound subject is when two or more subjects are joined by a conjunction such as “and” or “or.” In this case, the verb should agree with the subject closest to it. For example, “John and Mary are going to the party” is correct because the compound subject “John and Mary” is plural, and so the verb “are” is also plural.

In some instances, subject-verb agreement can be tricky, especially when dealing with irregular nouns and verbs. For instance, the singular noun “sheep” is always paired with the singular verb “is,” and the plural noun “children” is always paired with the plural verb “are.”

In conclusion, proper noun verb agreement is crucial in effective communication. It helps to ensure that the message is clear, precise, and easy to understand. As a copy editor, it is essential to pay attention to noun verb agreement when editing articles, blog posts, or any form of written content. By doing so, you can enhance the readability and impact of the written piece.