Grammar & Usage-Subject-Verb Agreement (Tricky Cases)
Goal: To learn Subject-Verb Agreement in challenging contexts, specifically involving Intervening Phrases and Collective Nouns, to accurately identify and correct errors in MCQ format.
1. The Subject-Verb Agreement Principle Review
The Fundamental Rule: A verb must agree with its subject in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs (which often end in -s in the present tense), and plural subjects take plural verbs (which usually do not end in -s).
| Subject Type | Example Subject | Example Verb |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | The athlete | runs |
| Plural | The athletes | run |
2. Tricky Case 1: Intervening Phrases (The Distractors)
The Challenge
In a complex sentence, a descriptive phrase often separates the true subject from its verb. This phrase usually contains a noun that appears to be the subject but is actually just a distractor. If you accidentally let the verb agree with this nearby noun, you will choose the wrong answer.
The Rule
The verb must always agree with the main subject of the sentence, regardless of any phrase that comes between them. The intervening phrase does not change the number (singular or plural) of the subject.
Key Intervening Phrases to Ignore
Be highly suspicious of phrases starting with these prepositions, as the subject is rarely within them:
- along with
- as well as
- together with
- including
- in addition to
- accompanied by
- of (especially common)
Expanded Examples
| Sentence Structure | Analysis | Correct Verb |
|---|---|---|
| The collection of rare coins _____ locked in the safe. | The subject is collection (singular). The phrase of rare coins is the distractor. | is |
| The students, along with their teacher, _____ visiting the museum. | The subject is students (plural). The phrase along with their teacher is the distractor. | are |
| The reason for all the recent delays _____ complex. | The subject is reason (singular). The phrase for all the recent delays is the distractor. | is |
Test-Taking Strategy for MCQs
When you see a phrase between the subject and the blank (or underlined verb), mentally cross out the intervening phrase to isolate the true subject and its verb.
3. Tricky Case 2: Collective Nouns (Units vs. Individuals)
The Challenge
Collective nouns (like team, jury, class, family, audience, committee) refer to a group of individuals. The difficulty is deciding if the group is acting as one unit (singular) or as separate individuals (plural).
The Rule
- Use a Singular Verb
- When the collective noun acts as one unified entity performing the same action. This is the most common usage on tests.
- Example: The jury has reached a unanimous verdict. (The jury is acting as one entity to deliver a single verdict.)
- Use a Plural Verb
- When the members of the group are acting as separate individuals, often performing different actions or expressing conflicting opinions.
- Example: The staff are still deciding which desk is theirs. (They are acting individually, separating themselves and their desks.)
Expanded Examples
| Collective Noun | Context | Analysis | Correct Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | The team _____ celebrating its victory tonight. | The team is celebrating together, as a unit. | is |
| Family | The family _____ scattered across the country for the holidays. | The individuals are separate and scattered. | are |
| Committee | The committee _____ meeting to finalize the decision. | The committee is meeting as one body. | is |
Test-Taking Strategy for MCQs
If the sentence uses a collective noun, look for words like unanimous, same, whole, general agreement (which suggest singular) or separate, different, arguing, own, individual (which suggest plural). In ambiguous cases, the singular verb is usually preferred in formal writing and on standardized tests.
Practice Question
Which of the following sentences correctly demonstrates Subject-Verb Agreement?
A) The list of required ingredients for the dish are extremely long.
B) The committee have voted on its new chairman.
C) The sound of those distant bells ring loudly across the valley.
D) The chorus, accompanied by the orchestra, performs every Friday.
Answer Key & Explanation
The correct answer is D.
- A) Incorrect: The subject is list (singular). The intervening phrase of required ingredients is the distractor. The verb should be is.
- B) Incorrect: Committee is acting as a unit (it voted on its chairman), so it requires the singular verb has (not have).
- C) Incorrect: The subject is sound (singular). The intervening phrase of those distant bells is the distractor. The verb should be rings.
- D) Correct: The subject is chorus (singular). The intervening phrase accompanied by the orchestra is ignored. The singular subject chorus correctly takes the singular verb performs.