Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammatical rule that every writer must know and follow. It is the rule that ensures that the subject and the verb in a sentence agree in number.

Here are the rules you need to follow for subject-verb agreement:

1. The subject and verb must agree in number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.

2. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. For example, « the dog barks » is correct because « dog » is a singular subject, and « barks » is a singular verb. In contrast, « the dogs bark » is correct because « dogs » is a plural subject, and « bark » is a plural verb.

3. When the subject and verb are separated by words or phrases such as « along with, » « in addition to, » « as well as, » or « together with, » the verb must agree with the subject, not with the intervening words or phrases. For example, « The teacher, along with her students, is going on a field trip » is correct because « teacher » is the subject and is singular, while « students » is not the subject.

4. Collective nouns are singular nouns that represent a group of individuals. Collective nouns can take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is acting as a single entity or individuals. For example, « The team is playing well » is correct because the team is acting as a single entity, while « The team are arguing among themselves » is correct because the individuals in the team are acting separately.

5. When the subject is composed of two or more nouns joined by « and, » the verb is plural. For example, « John and Mary are going to the party » is correct because « John » and « Mary » are both plural subjects.

6. Indefinite pronouns such as « everyone, » « someone, » and « anyone » are singular and require a singular verb. For example, « Everyone is invited to the party » is correct because « everyone » is a singular subject.

7. When expressing time, money, distance, weights, or amounts, the verb should match the noun closest to it. For example, « Ten dollars is the cost of the ticket » is correct because « dollars » is the closest noun to the verb « is. »

By following these rules, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically accurate and reflects proper subject-verb agreement. It may seem like a small detail, but it can make a big difference in the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.