How to Fix Subject-Verb Agreement Errors with Intervening Phrases

📚 Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Phrases

Subject-verb agreement 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. Intervening phrases are groups of words that come between the subject and the verb. These phrases can make it difficult to identify the true subject of the sentence, leading to errors in agreement.

📜 A Brief History

The rules of subject-verb agreement have evolved alongside the English language itself. Early forms of English had more complex verb conjugations, making agreement more explicit. As the language simplified, these rules became more subtle and reliant on word order and careful attention to the subject's number. The presence of intervening phrases has always presented a challenge, requiring speakers and writers to focus on the core subject despite the surrounding words.

🔑 Key Principles to Master

• 🎯 Identify the Real Subject: Focus on finding the true subject of the sentence, ignoring any intervening phrases. These phrases often begin with prepositions such as 'of,' 'with,' 'along with,' 'as well as,' 'together with,' 'in addition to,' etc.
• ✂️ Mentally Eliminate the Intervening Phrase: Temporarily remove the phrase to isolate the subject and verb. This will help you determine the correct verb form.
• ☝️ Ignore Words After 'Each' or 'Every': If the subject is preceded by 'each' or 'every,' the verb is usually singular.
• 🤝 Pay Attention to Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, committee) can be singular or plural, depending on whether they are acting as a unit or as individual members.
• 🧐 Beware of Inverted Sentences: In sentences that start with 'there' or 'here,' the subject follows the verb.

✍️ Real-World Examples

Let's look at some examples to illustrate these principles:

1. Incorrect: The box of chocolates are on the table. Correct: The box of chocolates is on the table. (The subject is 'box,' which is singular.)
2. Incorrect: The students, along with their teacher, is going on a field trip. Correct: The students, along with their teacher, are going on a field trip. (The subject is 'students,' which is plural.)
3. Incorrect: Each of the students have a book. Correct: Each of the students has a book. (Because of 'each,' the verb is singular.)
4. Incorrect: The team are arguing about the strategy. Correct: The team is arguing about the strategy. (The team is acting as a unit.)
5. Incorrect: There is many reasons to learn grammar. Correct: There are many reasons to learn grammar. (The subject is 'reasons,' which is plural.)

💡 Tips and Tricks

• 📝 Underline the Subject: Physically underlining the subject can help you focus on it.
• 🗣️ Read Aloud: Reading the sentence aloud can sometimes help you hear whether the verb sounds correct.
• 🧪 Practice Regularly: The more you practice, the easier it will become to identify subjects and verbs correctly.

✅ Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement with intervening phrases requires careful attention to the structure of the sentence. By identifying the true subject, mentally eliminating intervening phrases, and practicing regularly, you can improve your grammar skills and write with greater confidence.