Subject-Verb Agreement: Correcting 'The Cost of Daily Products Has Skyrocketed'

In English grammar, subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect that ensures the sentence is grammatically correct. A common mistake occurs when the subject and verb do not agree in number, leading to grammatical errors. In the sentence, 'The cost of daily products has skyrocketed', understanding the subject-verb agreement is essential. Let's explore this in detail.

Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement refers to the matching of the subject and verb in a sentence in terms of number (singular or plural). The subject is the person or thing performing the action, while the verb is the action itself. If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

The Given Sentence: Identifying Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

The original sentence is:

The cost of all these articles have risen.

This sentence is incorrect because the subject, 'cost', is singular, but the verb 'have risen' is plural. To correct the sentence, we need to ensure that the verb agrees with the singular subject. Both of the following correction options are accurate:

1. The cost of all these articles has risen.

2. The costs of all these articles have risen.

Correcting the Sentence: 'The Cost of All Daily Products Has Skyrocketed'

Now, let's focus on the sentence: 'The cost of all daily products has skyrocketed'. In this sentence, the subject is 'the cost', which is singular, and the verb is 'has skyrocketed'. Here's why this sentence is correct:

Subject (Cost): The noun 'cost' is singular. Verb (Skyrocketed): The verb 'skyrocketed' is also singular and agrees with the singular subject.

Therefore, the subject and verb agree in number, making the sentence grammatically correct:

The cost of all daily products has skyrocketed.

Additional Considerations and Examples

Let's look at a few more examples to ensure a clear understanding of subject-verb agreement.

Example 1: 'The cost of all these articles has risen'

The cost of all these articles has risen.

Example 2: 'The costs of all these daily products have skyrocketed'

The costs of all these daily products have skyrocketed. (This sentence may still be grammatically correct if 'costs' is intended to refer to multiple product costs).

Example 3: 'The cost of all daily products has skyrocketed'

The cost of all daily products has skyrocketed. (This sentence is correct as the singular subject matches with the singular verb).

Conclusion and Importance of Correct Sentence Structure

Mastering subject-verb agreement is vital for effective communication. Incorrect subject-verb agreement can lead to confusion and can make a sentence sound awkward or incorrect. By ensuring that the subject and verb agree in number, you can improve the clarity and professionalism of your writing. Remember, practice makes perfect, and regularly revisiting these concepts will help you avoid common grammatical errors.

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