Sentence Craft · Correctness
Subject–verb agreement & tense
Make verbs match their subjects and keep time consistent.
Step 1 of 4 · Overview15 min read ·
| Rule | ✅ Example |
|---|---|
| Singular subject → singular verb | The list of trades is long. |
| Ignore phrases between subject and verb | The trader, along with two analysts, is here. |
| Either/or: match the nearer noun | Either the PM or the traders are wrong. |
| Data: plural formally, singular common in business | The data show / shows (pick one, be consistent) |
Tense consistency: don't switch between past and present in the same story without a reason.
❌ The trade failed, so ops calls the counterparty.
✅ The trade failed, so ops called the counterparty.Next: Practice