Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of language that every writer and editor must understand. This factor becomes even more critical when it comes to SEO writing. In the world of SEO, ensuring that the subject and the verb agree is vital for optimizing your content for search engines. In this article, we`ll take a closer look at the subject-verb agreement and how to use `have` and `has` correctly.
What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement indicates that a subject and a verb conjugate according to their tense and number. It means that a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb. This rule sounds simple, but it can become tricky in some cases where the subject and verb are separated by phrases, clauses, or other words.
For instance, “The cat who lives in the garden, have you seen it?” is incorrect because the subject is “cat,” and it is singular. Therefore, the correct sentence would be, “The cat who lives in the garden, have you seen him?” In this sentence, the verb `have` is changed to `has` because the subject is now singular.
When to use `have` and `has`?
`Have` and `has` are both forms of the verb `to have.` However, they have different tenses and are used to convey different meanings. The singular subject requires `has,` while the plural subject needs `have.`
For instance,
– She has two dogs; `has` is used because `she` is a singular subject.
– They have two dogs; `have` is used because `they` is a plural subject.
Here are some more examples where `have` and `has` are used:
– The book has an interesting plot.
– The students have finished their project.
– John has a new car.
– The employees have completed their tasks.
In conclusion, understanding the subject-verb agreement is crucial for effective SEO writing. It helps ensure that your content is optimized for search engines and readable for your audience. Therefore, always double-check your work to ensure that your subject and verb agree. Remember, use `has` with a singular subject and `have` with a plural subject. Following this simple rule will help you produce high-quality content that meets SEO requirements.