Agreement Meaning and Example: Understanding the Basics
In everyday language, an agreement refers to a mutual understanding between two or more parties. It can also refer to a legal document that outlines the terms and conditions of a partnership, sale, or service. In the world of grammar, agreement refers to the relationship between different parts of a sentence. It is an essential concept, as it helps in forming a grammatically correct and coherent sentence.
What is agreement in grammar?
Agreement, also known as concord, is a grammatical rule that states that the different parts of a sentence should be in agreement with each other. These different parts include verbs, subjects, pronouns, and adjectives. The agreement refers to the way in which these parts match in terms of number, gender, and case.
For instance, in the sentence “She is eating an apple,” the verb “is” agrees with the singular subject “she.” Similarly, in the sentence “The boys are playing football,” the plural verb “are” agrees with the plural subject “boys.”
Types of agreement
There are three types of agreement in grammar, namely:
1. Subject-verb agreement: This type of agreement refers to the relationship between the subject and verb in a sentence. The verb should agree with the subject in terms of number and person. For example, “He runs every day” (singular) and “They run every day” (plural).
2. Pronoun-antecedent agreement: This type of agreement refers to the relationship between a pronoun and its antecedent. An antecedent is a noun or pronoun that comes before the pronoun. The pronoun should agree with its antecedent in terms of number, gender, and person. For example, “Mary lost her book” (singular) and “The girls lost their books” (plural).
3. Adjective-noun agreement: This type of agreement refers to the relationship between an adjective and the noun it modifies. The adjective should agree with the noun in terms of number and gender. For example, “The green shirt” (singular and masculine) and “The green dresses” (plural and feminine).
Importance of agreement in grammar
Agreement is essential in grammar, as it helps in forming a grammatically correct and coherent sentence. It enhances clarity, readability, and comprehension. A sentence with faulty agreement can lead to confusion, ambiguity, and incorrect interpretation.
For example, the sentence “The group of students are studying hard” is incorrect because the subject “group” is singular, but the verb “are” is plural. The correct sentence is “The group of students is studying hard.”
Final thoughts
Agreement is an essential concept in grammar, as it helps in forming a grammatically correct and coherent sentence. It refers to the relationship between different parts of a sentence and should be in agreement with each other in terms of number, gender, and case. Understanding agreement is crucial for effective communication, and it helps to avoid confusion, ambiguity, and incorrect interpretation.