Subject-Verb Agreement


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Subjects and Prepositional Phrases

Many errors occur when the subject and verb are separated by a prepositional phrase.

These errors occur because the writer has mistaken the true subject.

In the following sentence, which noun, child or brothers and sisters, will the verb agree with? Will the verb be 3rd person singular (receives) and agree with the singular noun child, or will the verb be 3rd person plural (receive) and agree with the plural noun phrase brothers and sisters?


  • A child with fewer brothers and sisters     (to receive)    more attention and support from the parents.

What to do...


To see the true subject more clearly, eliminate the prepositional phrase.

Problem 1:

A child with fewer brothers and sisters don't necessarily receive more attention and support from the parents.

Solution:

A child with fewer brothers and sister doesn't necessarily receive more attention and support from the parents.

Power Edit #5

 

The following sentences are from ESL students' writing. Find the problems(s) in subject-verb agreement and correct them. Check your answers when you are done. 

1.  The two principal colors that I associate with my native country, Guyana, is green and red.

2.  The misuse of these privately-owned weapons often cause fatal accidents.

3.  "The Gates of Hell, by August Rodin, is one large sculpture that have many smaller sculptures within it.

4.  I believe that yelling and screaming at kids teach kids to yell and scream back.

5.  One of the differences between my culture and the American culture involve how children are disciplined.

Click HERE for the ANSWERS to the SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT with PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

Next lesson... Action Verbs and 'be' Verbs


We discuss the two categories of verbs - action verbs and be verbs - in next week's lesson.

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