An example of wrong sentence structure often involves a lack of agreement between sentence components, such as a subject and its verb. These errors can make sentences grammatically incorrect and difficult to understand.
Understanding Sentence Structure Errors
Sentence structure refers to the way words, phrases, and clauses are arranged to form complete sentences. When this arrangement is flawed, it leads to structural errors. One common type of error relates to subject-verb agreement, where the verb used in a sentence does not match the number (singular or plural) of its subject.
For instance, if a singular subject is paired with a plural verb, or vice-versa, the sentence structure is incorrect. Similarly, collective nouns or indefinite pronouns can sometimes lead to confusion regarding whether a singular or plural verb is needed, resulting in structural faults if the wrong form is used.
Common Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
Here are specific examples of incorrect sentence structure due to subject-verb agreement issues, along with their corrections and explanations:
| Typical Error | Correction | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| The silver cutlery was in the cupboard that was broken into. All of them are missing. | The silver cutlery was in the cupboard that was broken into. All of it is missing. | When referring to a collective singular noun like "cutlery," the pronoun should be singular ("it") and the verb should also be singular ("is"), not plural ("are"). |
| Some cash are also missing. | Some cash is also missing. | Uncountable nouns, such as "cash," are treated as singular and therefore require a singular verb ("is"), not a plural verb ("are"). |
Key Takeaways for Correcting Sentence Structure
To ensure correct sentence structure, particularly regarding subject-verb agreement, consider the following:
- Identify the True Subject: Sometimes, words or phrases come between the subject and the verb, making it seem like the verb should be plural when the subject is singular (or vice versa). Always identify the core subject of the verb.
- Treat Uncountable Nouns as Singular: Nouns that cannot be counted individually (e.g., information, water, advice, cash) always take singular verbs.
- Understand Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, cutlery, audience) can be singular or plural depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members. In the examples provided, "cutlery" is treated as a singular unit.
By paying close attention to the relationship between subjects and verbs, writers can avoid common structural errors and produce clear, grammatically sound sentences.
