Subject-Verb Agreement: Identifying the True Subject in a Sentence

📚 What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement simply means that the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. Sounds easy, right? The trick is identifying the *true* subject, which can be obscured by phrases and clauses.

📜 A Brief History

The concept of subject-verb agreement has been a fundamental part of English grammar for centuries. Its roots lie in the inflected nature of Old English, where verb forms changed more distinctly to reflect the number and person of the subject. While English has simplified over time, the core principle of agreement remains.

🔑 Key Principles for Identifying the True Subject

• 🔍 Ignore Prepositional Phrases: A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition (like *of, in, to, for, with*) followed by a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition). The subject is NEVER found inside a prepositional phrase. For example, in the sentence "The box of chocolates is missing," the subject is *box*, not *chocolates*.
• ✂️ Cut Out Intervening Clauses: Clauses that come between the subject and verb (such as relative clauses beginning with *who, which, that*) should be mentally removed to find the core subject. For example, "The student who studies diligently always succeeds." Strip away "who studies diligently," and you're left with "The student succeeds."
• ➕ Watch Out for Compound Subjects: Subjects joined by *and* are usually plural and take a plural verb. For instance, "John and Mary are going to the party." However, if the subjects refer to a single entity, use a singular verb: "Mac and cheese is my favorite meal."
• ➖ Be Careful with *Or* and *Nor*: When subjects are joined by *or* or *nor*, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Example: "Neither the students nor the teacher was present." But "Neither the teacher nor the students were present."
• ❓ Interrogative Sentences: In questions, the subject often comes after the auxiliary verb. Rearrange the sentence to confirm agreement. For example, "Are the books on the table?" Think: "The books are on the table."
• ♾️ Indefinite Pronouns: Be aware of indefinite pronouns like *each, everyone, somebody, nobody, all, some, none*. Some are always singular (*each, everyone, somebody, nobody*) and some can be singular or plural depending on the context (*all, some, none*).
• 🏢 Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (like *team, family, committee*) can be singular or plural depending on whether they are acting as a single unit or as individual members. "The team is playing well." (single unit). "The team are arguing amongst themselves." (individual members).

🌍 Real-World Examples

Let's look at some examples to solidify your understanding:

1. The stack of pancakes is delicious. (Singular subject *stack*)
2. The players on the team are excited. (Plural subject *players*)
3. Neither the cat nor the dogs are allowed on the furniture. (Plural subject *dogs* is closest to the verb)
4. Each of the contestants has a chance to win. (Singular subject *each*)
5. The data is inconclusive. (Collective noun acting as a single unit. However, 'data' can also be plural in academic writing, so 'The data are inconclusive' is also sometimes acceptable).

✍️ Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement involves carefully identifying the true subject of a sentence. By ignoring prepositional phrases, cutting out intervening clauses, and paying attention to compound subjects and indefinite pronouns, you can improve your grammar and writing skills. Practice makes perfect!