Make Verbs Agree After Prepositional Phrases

Skill

Make Verbs Agree After Prepositional Phrases

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Sometimes prepositional phrases can come between the subject and the verb. If the object of the preposition is singular and the subject is plural, or if the object of the preposition is plural and the subject is singular, there can be confusion in making the subject and verb agree.

The key (to the doors) are✱ in the drawer.
Key -> SINGULAR , are -> PLURAL
The keys (to the door) is✱ in the drawer.
Keys -> PLURAL , is -> SINGULAR
(✱ indicates an error)

In the first example, you might think that doors is the subject because it comes directly in front of the verb are. However, doors is not the subject because it is the object of the preposition to. The subject of the sentence is key, so the verb should be is. In the second example, you might think that door is the subject because it comes directly in front of the verb is. You should recognize in this example that door is not the subject because it is the object of the preposition to. Because the subject of the sentence is keys, the verb should be are.

Exercise

Complete the following exercises to reinforce what you’ve learned:

EXERCISE 20: Each of the following sentences has one or more prepositional phrases between the subject and verb. Circle the prepositional phrases. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

  1. _C_ The climbers (on the sheer face of the mountain) need to be rescued.
  2. _I_ The interrogation, conducted (by three police officers), have lasted for several hours.
  3. ___ The tenants in the apartment next to mine is giving a party this evening.
  4. ___ The president, surrounded by secret service agents, is trying to make his way to the podium.
  5. ___ The buildings destroyed during the fire are being rebuilt at the taxpayers’ expense.
  6. ___ Because of the seriousness of the company’s financial problems, the board of directors have called an emergency meeting.
  7. ___ Manufacture of the items that you requested have been discontinued because of lack of profit on those items.
  8. ___ Further development of any new ideas for future products has to be approved in advance.
  9. ___ The scheduled departure time of the trains, posted on panels throughout the terminal buildings, are going to be updated.
  10. ___ Any houses built in that development before 1970 have to be upgraded to meet current standards.

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