Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: Tricky Sentences
Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: Intervening phrases and inverted subjects
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Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: Intervening phrases and inverted subjects
What do you already know about agreement when phrases interrupt the subject and verb?
Learning Objective
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to identify intervening phrases and inverted subjects, and ensure the verb agrees correctly with the subject in complex sentences.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Why Does Subject-Verb Agreement Matter?
Subject-verb agreement helps writing stay clear and accurate, especially in trickier sentence structures.
Spotting the Real Subject
Sometimes the actual subject is hidden by extra phrases. Identifying it is key for making the verb agree.
What is the subject in the sentence: One of the family members is not present today.
family
one of the
members
one
The team of players ____ winning the match.
is
were
has
are
A bouquet of flowers ____ on the table.
is
have
are
were
Each of the students ____ completed their assignment.
have
were
are
has
What Is an Intervening Phrase?
An intervening phrase, often a prepositional phrase, sits between the subject and the verb.
Example: Intervening Phrase
One of the band members is ill today. ‘One’ is the subject; ‘of the band members’ is the intervening phrase.
Common Mistake
It’s easy to make the verb agree with a nearby noun in the intervening phrase—don’t be tricked!
Identifying the Subject
Correct
Most of the students in our class do volunteer work. ‘Most’ is the subject.
Incorrect
Most of the students in our class does volunteer work. (‘Does’ wrongly matches ‘class’. )
Verb Agreement with Negatives
The verb still agrees with the subject even if a negative word (not, no, never) follows it.
Choose the correct sentence with 'never':
She never go to that place.
She never goes to that place.
She never gone to that place.
She never going to that place.
Identify the correct form with 'none':
None of them are late.
None of them be late.
None of them were late.
None of them is late.
Example: Negative Intervening Phrase
The truth, not more stories, is what I want to hear. ‘Truth’ is the subject; 'is' matches 'truth'.
What Is Inverted Subject-Verb Order?
Sometimes, the subject comes after the verb, especially for style or emphasis.
Example: Inverted Subject
In the town square stands a stone monument. ‘Monument’ is the subject.
'There' and 'Here' in Sentences
When sentences begin with 'there' or 'here', the subject comes after the verb. Find the true subject to match the verb correctly!
Here is your pen.
Here come the buses.
There was a problem yesterday.
There are many books on the table.
Fill in the blanks
There goes the finest car on the road today.
There go the parade vehicles we enjoyed watching today.
Here comes the smartest student in the class.
Here come the band members who won the competition.
Example: There Goes the Car
There goes the finest car on the road today. The subject is 'car', so the verb is singular.
Predicate Nominatives
A predicate nominative is a noun or group of nouns that renames the subject after a linking verb. The verb agrees with the subject, not the PN.
1. The winner is the players.
2. The problem is the delays.
3. The delays were the problem.
Example: With Predicate Nominative
Enrique's hobby is tropical fish. Subject: ‘hobby’.
Quick Practice
A group of friends (is/are) planning a trip. Which verb fits and why?
‘Group’ is the subject. Correct: 'is'. 'Of friends' is intervening.
Choose the Correct Verb
Answer
Lesson Reflection
How confident are you now in finding the subject and matching it to the correct verb, even in tricky structures?
Write down 2 things you learned in this lesson.
