确保主语和动词保持数的一致。
单数主语后跟单数动词，复数主语后跟复数动词。
例如，单数主语（"teacher"）与单数动词（"was"）保持一致：
The teacher was on the picket line.
或者复数主语（"teachers"）与复数动词（"were"）相对应：
The teachers were on the picket line.
不能用单数主语搭配复数动词，或者复数主语搭配单数动词。
下面就是一个错误的例句：
Many student think having a dress code is a bad idea.
修改此句就是要使主语和动词的单复数一致，可把主语变成复数（students think），或者用表示单数的动词（student thinks）。
当主语和动词被短语分开时，确保两者的一致性。
主语和动词之间被短语隔开时，可能会导致疏忽了主语和动词一致性的问题。下面就是一个例子：
The participation of the players were welcomed.
这句话的主语是"participation"，是单数，所以动词也要用单数。本句应是这样：
The participation of the players was welcomed.
保证复合主语后面跟的是表示复数的动词。
在校对文章时，要准确辨别句子的主语。例如，下句就包含了多个主语：
Early in the morning, one science teacher and one gym teacher were picketing the school.
在这种情况中，主语是一个复合主语（"science teacher" 和"gym teacher"），所以动词必须是表示复数的动词（"were"）。
确保集合名词跟它的动词一致。
当你用一个集合名词，如group, jury, family, 或者 board of trustees 做主语时，动词用单数还是复数形式取决于你打算如何表达团体行为。
在美国英语中，集合名词通常被看作单数，如下例：
The jury was unanimous in its decision.
可是，在你想强调组成团体的个体、个人的行为时，可以这样表达：
The jury were divided among themselves, even after deliberating for two days.
虽然这句话是正确的，但是听起来比较别扭。你或许会把"jury"改为"jury members"。
Make sure the subject and verb agree in number.
A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
For example, the singular subject ("teacher") agrees with the singular verb ("was"):
The teacher was on the picket line.
Or the plural subject ("teachers") matches the plural verb ("were"):
The teachers were on the picket line.
You should never have a singular subject with a plural verb, or vice versa:
For example, the following is incorrect:
Many student think having a dress code is a bad idea.
This sentence can be edited to make the subject and verb agree, either by making the subject plural (students think) or the verb singular (student thinks).
Make sure the subject and verb agree when they are separated by a phrase.
When you place phrases between the subject and the verb, you sometimes inadvertently forget to make the subject and verb agree in number. Here's an example:
The participation of the players were welcomed.
Since the subject of this sentence is "participation", which is singular in number, you need a singular verb. The sentence should read:
The participation of the players was welcomed.
Make sure a compound subject has a plural verb.
When you proofread your work, correctly identify the subject in your sentences. For example, the following sentence has more than one subject:
Early in the morning, one science teacher and one gym teacher were picketing the school.
In this case, the complete subject is compound ("science teacher" and "gym teacher"), and so the verb must be plural ("were").
Make sure a collective noun agrees with the verb.
When you use a collective noun such as group, jury, family, or board of trustees, you choose to make the verb singular or plural according to how you intend to show the group acting. In American English, collective nouns are usually singular, as in this example:
The jury was unanimous in its decision.
However, sometimes you might want to emphasize that the group acted as individuals, each for him- or herself. Then you'd write:
The jury were divided among themselves, even after deliberating for two days.
While correct, this sentence sounds awkward. You might want to change the word "jury" to "jury members."