Identify and correct errors with subject-verb agreement

Learning Objectives Identify the simple subject and main verb in complex sentences containing multiple clauses and phrases. Correct subject-verb agreement errors in sentences with intervening prepositional or appositive phrases. Apply subject-verb agreement rules to sentences with singular, plural, and context-dependent indefinite pronouns. Differentiate between singular and plural verb usage for collective nouns based on whether the group acts as a single unit or as individuals. Analyze sentences with inverted word order (e.g., questions, sentences beginning with 'Here' or 'There') to ensure correct agreement. Correctly apply agreement rules to compound subjects joined by coordinating ('and') and correlative ('either/or', 'neither/...

TermDefinitionExample SubjectThe noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that performs the action of the verb or is described by the verb. In complex sentences, this is the 'who' or 'what' the sentence is fundamentally about.In the sentence, 'The protagonist, despite his many flaws, ultimately seeks redemption,' the simple subject is 'protagonist'. VerbA word that expresses a physical action, a mental action, or a state of being.In 'The author argues for a new perspective,' the verb is 'argues'. AgreementThe grammatical rule that the form of the verb must match its subject in number (singular or plural). A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.Correct: 'The theme emerges.' (singular subj...

The Proximity Rule for Or/Nor When a compound subject is joined by 'or' or 'nor' (or 'either/or', 'neither/nor'), the verb must agree with the subject that is closest to it. This rule is essential for correlative conjunctions. Unlike 'and', which usually makes a subject plural, 'or' and 'nor' do not combine the subjects. The verb's form is determined solely by the noun or pronoun physically nearer to it in the sentence. The Intervening Phrase Bypass The subject of a sentence is never found within a prepositional phrase or other interrupting phrase. To find the true subject, mentally (or physically) cross out any prepositional phrases (starting with words like 'of', 'in', 'with...