Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of grammar that ensures clarity and coherence in writing. This agreement refers to the relationship between the subject and the verb used in a sentence. It means that the subject and the verb must agree in number, i.e., singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. However, sometimes intervening phrases can complicate the subject-verb agreement, making it challenging for writers to choose the appropriate verb tense. In this article, we`ll discuss what intervening phrases are and how to handle them when it comes to subject-verb agreement.
Intervening phrases are phrases that come between the subject and the verb in a sentence. These phrases can consist of a prepositional phrase, a participial phrase, an infinitive phrase, or a gerund phrase. Here`s an example of an intervening phrase:
“The book, along with the pen and the notebook, was on the table.”
In this sentence, “along with the pen and the notebook” is the intervening phrase that separates the subject “the book” from the verb “was.” The subject is singular, but the phrase in between can make it appear plural. So, what`s the correct verb agreement in this case?
The rule of thumb is to ignore intervening phrases and focus on the subject. In other words, the verb should agree with the subject and not be swayed by the intervening phrase. Therefore, the sentence above should read:
“The book, along with the pen and the notebook, was on the table.”
Note that the verb “was” agrees with the singular subject “the book,” and not with the intervening phrase “along with the pen and the notebook.”
Let`s look at another example:
“The students, as well as their teacher, were excited about the field trip.”
In this sentence, the intervening phrase is “as well as their teacher,” which comes between the subject “the students” and the verb “were.” Again, the verb should agree with the subject, which is “the students.” Therefore, the correct sentence should be:
“The students, as well as their teacher, was excited about the field trip.”
Note that the singular verb “was” is used in this case, as the subject “the students” is singular.
In summary, intervening phrases can make subject-verb agreement challenging, but it doesn`t have to be. As a writer, it`s crucial to remember to ignore intervening phrases and focus on the subject-verb agreement. This will ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. With these tips, you`re sure to avoid subject-verb agreement errors caused by intervening phrases.