Three Verb Disagreement: What it is and How to Avoid it
As a copy editor, one of the most common errors I come across is verb disagreement. This occurs when the subject and verb in a sentence do not agree in terms of their tense, person, or number. This mistake can not only make your writing sound clumsy and unprofessional, but it can also harm your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. In this article, we will focus on one specific type of verb disagreement: the three verb disagreement.
What is a Three Verb Disagreement?
A three verb disagreement occurs when there are three or more verbs in a sentence, and they do not agree in terms of their tense, person, or number. For instance:
“Mary walks to the store, buying a loaf of bread, and bought some milk.”
In this sentence, the first verb is in the present tense, while the second verb is in the present participle form, and the third verb is in the past tense. This creates a disagreement that makes the sentence confusing and difficult to understand.
Why is it Important to Avoid Three Verb Disagreement?
Search engines such as Google prioritize high-quality content that is clear, concise, and error-free. Three verb disagreements not only make it difficult for readers to understand your content but can also cause search engines to view your content as low-quality or spammy. This can harm your SEO efforts and negatively affect your website`s search engine ranking.
How to Avoid Three Verb Disagreement?
To avoid three verb disagreement, it is essential to ensure that all the verbs in a sentence agree in terms of tense, person, and number. One way to achieve this is by breaking the sentence into multiple sentences or clauses. For instance:
“Mary walks to the store. She buys a loaf of bread and some milk.”
Another way to avoid three verb disagreement is by using the same tense throughout the sentence. For example:
“Mary walks to the store, buys a loaf of bread, and gets some milk.”
In this sentence, all the verbs are in the present tense, making it clear, concise, and easy to understand.
Final Thoughts
Three verb disagreement, like any other grammatical mistake, can harm your website`s SEO efforts. It is essential always to proofread your content and ensure that all the verbs in a sentence agree in terms of tense, person, and number. By doing so, you will not only make your content clear and professional but also improve your website`s search engine ranking.
