What does 'subject-verb agreement' refer to in English grammar?

Subject-verb agreement refers to the grammatical rule that requires verbs to match their subjects in number (singular or plural). This means that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. For instance, in the sentence "The dog barks," the singular subject "dog" is matched with the singular verb "barks." Conversely, in the sentence "The dogs bark," the plural subject "dogs" corresponds to the plural verb "bark." This principle is crucial for maintaining clarity and grammatical correctness in English sentences. Understanding subject-verb agreement helps ELL learners construct accurate sentences that conform to standard English grammar rules.