Subject-verb agreement is an important rule of grammar that ensures clarity in writing and speaking. A subordinate clause is a dependent clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence but is linked to a main clause to form a complete sentence. In this article, we will discuss subject-verb agreement in subordinate clauses.

Before we proceed, let`s first define what a subordinate clause is. It is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a sentence. It begins with subordinating conjunctions such as “although,” “because,” “if,” “when,” and “while.” Subordinate clauses function as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns in a sentence.

When using subordinate clauses, it is crucial to ensure that the subject and verb agree. The subject must agree with the verb in terms of number and person. Singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs. For example:

Incorrect: Although the team have won many games, they are still not satisfied.

Correct: Although the team has won many games, they are still not satisfied.

In the incorrect example, the subject “team” is singular, but the verb “have” is plural. The correct verb should be “has” to match the singular subject.

Another example:

Incorrect: While the birds were chirping, a group of squirrels were running across the park.

Correct: While the birds were chirping, a group of squirrels was running across the park.

In the incorrect example, the subject “group” is singular, but the verb “were” is plural. The correct verb should be “was” to match the singular subject.

It is also essential to ensure that the verb reflects the tense of the sentence. Subordinate clauses should have the same tense as the main clause unless there is a clear reason to use a different tense. For example:

Incorrect: If he drank too much last night, he will not feel good today.

Correct: If he drank too much last night, he would not feel good today.

In the incorrect example, the verb “will” is in the present tense, but the sentence is talking about a past event. The correct verb should be “would” to match the past tense of the sentence.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement in subordinate clauses is essential to ensure clarity in writing and speaking. Writers and editors should ensure that the subject and verb agree in terms of number and person and reflect the same tense as the main clause, unless there is a clear reason to use a different tense. By following these rules, writers can create clear and effective sentences.