Subject-verb agreement is one of the most important aspects of grammar, as it ensures that the sentence makes sense and is grammatically correct. This agreement is generally straightforward, as it means that the verb must agree in number with the subject of the sentence. However, when prepositional phrases are involved, it can become a little more complicated.
Prepositional phrases are groups of words that function as a single unit to describe a noun or pronoun. They include a preposition, its object, and any modifiers of that object. For example, in the sentence “The cat is on the table,” the prepositional phrase is “on the table,” as it describes where the cat is located. When a sentence contains a prepositional phrase, it can be tricky to determine the correct verb form, as the subject may not be immediately obvious.
To help understand subject-verb agreement with prepositional phrases, let`s look at some examples:
1. The group of students is studying for their exams.
In this sentence, the subject is “group,” which is singular, so the verb “is” also needs to be singular. However, the prepositional phrase “of students” comes after the subject and can be misleading, as “students” is plural. But because the prepositional phrase is not part of the subject, the verb must agree only with “group.”
2. The team of athletes are running to the finish line.
In this example, the subject is “team,” which is singular, and so the verb “are” does not agree. The prepositional phrase “of athletes” may suggest that the subject is plural, but again, because it is not part of the subject, the verb agrees only with “team.”
3. The family with their three children is planning a vacation.
In this sentence, the subject is “family,” which is singular, and so the verb “is” agrees. The prepositional phrase “with their three children” provides additional information about the family but does not affect the subject-verb agreement.
4. The group of volunteers are cleaning up the park.
In this example, the subject is “group,” which is singular, and so the verb “are” does not agree. However, this sentence is incorrect because the subject-verb agreement is not consistent. In this case, the prepositional phrase “of volunteers” comes after the subject but is still part of the subject, as it is essential to understanding the sentence. Therefore, the verb should agree with the plural “volunteers,” making “are” the correct verb form.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is essential in ensuring clear and grammatically correct sentences. When prepositional phrases are involved, it is important to identify the subject and to remember that the prepositional phrase is not always part of it. Being aware of these factors can help you write more concise and effective sentences.