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What are the most frequent subject-verb agreement errors in English visualisation

What are the most frequent subject-verb agreement errors in English

Master English: Avoid Common Grammar Mistakes!: What are the most frequent subject-verb agreement errors in English
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The most frequent subject-verb agreement errors in English typically include the following:

  1. Errors between singular and plural subjects and verbs, such as using a singular verb with a plural subject or vice versa.
  2. Omission or misformation of verb forms, especially in the third person singular where an -s or -es ending is required but often left out.
  3. Errors involving tense selection that affect agreement consistency within sentences.
  4. Agreement errors caused by proximity to nearby nouns that distract from the actual subject (attraction errors), especially when the subject is singular but a nearby noun is plural or vice versa.
  5. Lack of awareness or incorrect use of rules in complex sentence structures, such as collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, or phrases between the subject and verb.

Studies on English learners, especially EFL students, reveal that subject-verb agreement errors rank among the most common grammatical mistakes. These errors often stem from linguistic interference, insufficient understanding of English grammar rules, and lack of practice. For example, one study found 25.32% of errors in spoken English to be subject-verb agreement errors, making it the most frequent error type among others like verb form and tense errors. Another research highlighted misformation and omission as the main error types in subject-verb agreement, with omission being a major factor. 1, 2, 5, 16

To summarize:

Error TypeDescriptionFrequency/Significance
Singular vs. Plural MismatchVerb doesn’t match the number of the subjectMost frequent error type in learners
Omission/Misformation of Verb FormLeaving out necessary -s/-es in 3rd person singularCommon, especially in writing and speaking
Tense-related ErrorsVerb tense inconsistency affecting agreementFrequent alongside agreement errors
Attraction ErrorsNearby noun confuses verb agreementCommon in complex sentences
Complex Subject StructuresErrors with collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, etc.Less frequent but notable cause of errors

The primary causes are linguistic interference from the learner’s first language, lack of grammar practice, and insufficient instruction specifically targeting these rules. Teaching approaches like drilling, feedback, and context-based learning help mitigate these errors. 3, 5, 16

This overview provides a comprehensive picture of the most frequent subject-verb agreement errors in English, especially among language learners, grounded in recent research findings.

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