Intervening words can be a tricky obstacle when it comes to subject-verb agreement in writing. These words, which are typically adverbs or phrases, can often appear between the subject and verb of a sentence, causing confusion and errors in sentence structure.
To understand how intervening words can affect subject-verb agreement, let’s take a look at a few examples:
1. The group of students, along with their teacher, ________ excited about the field trip.
In this sentence, the intervening words “along with their teacher” come between the subject “group of students” and the verb “are.” It’s important to remember that the subject of the sentence is “group of students,” which is a plural noun. Therefore, the correct verb to use is “are,” making the correct sentence structure: “The group of students, along with their teacher, are excited about the field trip.”
2. A new restaurant, as well as a bar, ________ opening downtown next week.
Here, the intervening words “as well as a bar” appear between the subject “a new restaurant” and the verb “is.” Again, it’s crucial to identify the true subject of the sentence, which is “a new restaurant.” Since this is a singular noun, the appropriate verb choice is “is,” resulting in the sentence: “A new restaurant, as well as a bar, is opening downtown next week.”
3. My roommate, along with her friends, ________ going to the concert tonight.
In this example, “along with her friends” is an intervening phrase that separates the subject “my roommate” from the verb “is.” Once again, we need to focus on the true subject of the sentence, which is “my roommate.” Since this is a singular noun, the correct verb choice is “is,” making the grammatically correct sentence: “My roommate, along with her friends, is going to the concert tonight.”
As you can see, intervening words can play a significant role in proper subject-verb agreement. It’s important to always identify the true subject of a sentence and base the verb choice on its singular or plural form. By doing so, you can create clear, concise sentences that convey your message effectively.