📚 Subject-Verb Agreement: Intervening vs. Prepositional Phrases
Subject-verb agreement simply means that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. But what happens when phrases come between the subject and the verb? Let's explore intervening and prepositional phrases.
🎯 Definition of Intervening Phrases
An intervening phrase adds extra information to the subject but doesn't change the subject's number. These phrases are usually set off by commas.
🔑 Definition of Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and modifies a noun or verb. Prepositional phrases often appear between the subject and the verb.
| Feature |
Intervening Phrase |
Prepositional Phrase |
| Definition |
Adds extra information, usually set off by commas. |
Begins with a preposition and modifies a noun or verb. |
| Impact on Agreement |
Does not affect subject-verb agreement. Ignore the phrase when determining the verb form. |
Does not affect subject-verb agreement. Ignore the phrase when determining the verb form. |
| Examples |
The singer, along with her band, is performing tonight. |
The stack of books is on the table. |
| Key Consideration |
Focus on the main subject, not the words within the phrase. |
Focus on the main subject, not the objects of the prepositions. |
✨ Key Takeaways
- 🔍 Identify the Subject: Find the true subject of the sentence.
- 💡 Ignore the Phrases: Mentally remove the intervening or prepositional phrase.
- 📝 Match Subject and Verb: Ensure the verb agrees with the subject in number (singular or plural).
- ✍️ Example 1 (Intervening): The student, as well as her classmates, is excited. ('Student' is singular, so 'is' is correct.)
- 📚 Example 2 (Prepositional): The box of chocolates is missing. ('Box' is singular, so 'is' is correct.)
- ✅ Practice: The results of the experiment are promising. ('Results' is plural, so 'are' is correct.)