In language structure, what does "subject-verb agreement" refer to?

"Subject-verb agreement" refers specifically to the grammatical rule that the subject of a sentence must agree in number with its verb. This means that a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. For example, in the sentence "The dog barks," the singular subject "dog" is matched with the singular verb "barks." In contrast, in "The dogs bark," the plural subject "dogs" aligns with the plural verb "bark." This agreement is crucial for maintaining clarity and coherence in writing and speaking.

The other options do not pertain to this grammatical rule. Using complex sentences involves sentence structure rather than subject-verb matching. Applying phonics relates to the sounds and letters in language, and emphasizing visual aids focuses on using pictures or diagrams to support communication, which is unrelated to the concept of subject-verb agreement. Thus, the correct interpretation of "subject-verb agreement" is found in matching the subject with its verb correctly.