Subject-verb agreement is an essential component of English grammar, and it becomes even trickier when it involves gerunds. Gerunds are words that end in -ing and act as nouns in sentences. They can be subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence. However, their usage can sometimes create confusion and lead to errors in subject-verb agreement.

When using a gerund as the subject of a sentence, it is essential to ensure that the verb agrees with it in number. This means that if the gerund is singular, the verb should also be singular, and if the gerund is plural, the verb should also be plural. Let`s look at some examples to illustrate this point:

– Running is good exercise. (Gerund singular, verb singular)

– Singing and dancing are my favorite hobbies. (Gerunds plural, verb plural)

It is worth noting that when a gerund is the subject of a sentence, it is always singular. This is because the -ing form of the verb is a singular noun.

When using a gerund as the object of a sentence, the verb will need to agree with the subject, not the gerund. This can be confusing, but it is important to remember that the gerund is acting as a noun and does not affect the verb`s agreement. Let`s take a look at some examples:

– She enjoys running every morning. (Subject “she” is singular, verb “enjoys” is singular)

– They love hiking in the mountains. (Subject “they” is plural, verb “love” is plural)

In some cases, a gerund can be used as a complement in a sentence. When this happens, the verb will need to agree with the subject, as in the previous example. Let`s look at an example of a gerund as a complement:

– His favorite activity is swimming. (Subject “activity” is singular, verb “is” is singular)

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement can be challenging, especially when dealing with gerunds. Remember to ensure that the verb agrees with the number of the gerund when it is the subject of a sentence. When used as an object or a complement, the verb agreement should be with the subject of the sentence. By paying close attention to subject-verb agreement, you can avoid common errors and create grammatically correct sentences.