5.3 Subject-Verb Agreement: Intervening Prepositional Phrases, Inverted Sentences, and Compound Subjects
Key Takeaways
A verb must agree in number (singular or plural) with its true grammatical subject, completely unaffected by intervening prepositional phrases, relative clauses, or parenthetical modifiers.
Additive parenthetical phrases introduced by connectors such as as well as, along with, together with, and in addition to do not create compound subjects and leave subject number unchanged.
Inverted sentences—including constructions introduced by the expletives there or here and sentences opening with prepositional phrases—place the true grammatical subject after the verb.
Compound subjects joined by the coordinating conjunction 'and' take a plural verb, except when the conjoined items represent a singular conceptual unit or identify the same individual.
Compound subjects joined by correlative or disjunctive conjunctions (or, nor, either...or, neither...nor) adhere to the rule of proximity, where the verb agrees with the subject component nearest to it.
5.3 Subject-Verb Agreement: Intervening Prepositional Phrases, Inverted Sentences, and Compound Subjects
Subject-verb agreement is the cornerstone of English sentence grammar: a verb must agree with its subject in person (first, second, third) and number (singular, plural). While native speakers rarely struggle with simple constructions such as the student reads versus the students read, standardized assessments systematically test intricate syntactic environments where modifying words, inverted clauses, or complex conjunctions obscure the true grammatical subject.
On the FTCE English Language Skills (826) subtest, Competency 3.3 evaluates your ability to maintain subject-verb agreement across challenging structural contexts. This section examines the four primary agreement traps found on the examination and outlines a foolproof diagnostic method for isolating grammatical subjects.
The Core Agreement Rule and the "S-Ending" Dynamic
In standard written English, present tense subject-verb agreement follows a reverse morphological relationship with the suffix -s:
- Singular Nouns: Generally do NOT end in -s (the teacher, the school).
- Singular Verbs (Third-Person Present): Must end in -s or -es (teaches, administers, evaluates).
- Plural Nouns: Generally end in -s (the teachers, the schools).
- Plural Verbs (Third-Person Present): Do NOT end in -s (teach, administer, evaluate).
Singular Subject (No -s) ──> Singular Verb (Ends in -s) : The teacher writes.
Plural Subject (Ends in -s)──> Plural Verb (No -s) : The teachers write.
While this rule is elementary in isolation, errors arise when words intervene between the subject and its verb, or when the sentence syntax is inverted.
Intervening Elements: The Subject-Verb Separation Trap
The single most pervasive agreement distractor on the FTCE is the intervening modifier. Standard English syntax dictates that modifying phrases or dependent clauses situated between the subject and the predicate have zero grammatical influence on the number of the verb.
1. Intervening Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (in, of, by, for, with, on, under) and ends with an object of the preposition. An object of a preposition can never serve as the grammatical subject of a sentence.
Consider this standard administrative sentence:
Flawed: The collection of standardized assessment booklets and proctor manuals were stored in the secure vault.
Analysis: The writer's ear is drawn to the plural nouns booklets and manuals, which sit directly adjacent to the verb. However, both nouns are mere objects of the preposition of. The true grammatical subject is the singular noun collection. The singular subject requires a singular verb:
Correct: The collection [of standardized assessment booklets and proctor manuals] was stored in the secure vault.
Examine a second example involving multiple chained prepositional phrases:
Flawed: The primary objective [of the comprehensive literacy interventions] [across all regional elementary schools] are to narrow the achievement gap.
Correct: The primary objective [of the comprehensive literacy interventions] [across all regional elementary schools] is to narrow the achievement gap.
2. Intervening Relative Clauses and Appositives
Similarly, non-restrictive relative clauses (who..., which...) and appositive noun phrases that interrupt the subject and predicate must be mentally bracketed and ignored when checking agreement:
Flawed: The lead reading specialist, who mentors twenty-five elementary classroom teachers across two rural districts, believe that phonics instruction must be systematic.
Correct: The lead reading specialist, [who mentors twenty-five elementary classroom teachers across two rural districts], believes that phonics instruction must be systematic.
Additive Expressions and Parenthetical Modifiers
A high-frequency test trap involves additive phrases that appear to join two entities together like the coordinating conjunction and, but syntactically function only as parenthetical prepositional modifiers.
Common additive connectors include:
- along with
- as well as
- together with
- in addition to
- accompanied by
- including
- as opposed to
The False Compound Subject Rule
These additive phrases do NOT compound the grammatical subject. The grammatical subject remains whatever noun precedes the phrase:
[Singular Subject] , along with / as well as [Plural Noun] , [SINGULAR VERB]
▲ ▲
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Subject remains singular!
Compare these contrasting structures:
- Compound Subject with AND (Plural): The principal and the guidance counselors are reviewing the attendance data.
- Additive Modifier (Singular): The principal, [along with the guidance counselors], is reviewing the attendance data.
- Additive Modifier (Singular): The district curriculum director, [as well as several veteran science instructors], has recommended the adoption of the digital textbook.
Because along with and as well as introduce prepositional phrases rather than coordinate conjunctions, they do not create a plural compound subject.
Inverted Sentence Structures
In standard English syntax, the grammatical subject precedes the verb (Subject + Verb + Object). However, in inverted sentences, the normal word order is reversed: the verb precedes the grammatical subject (Verb + Subject). Test takers who look before the verb for the subject will fall into deliberate test distractors.
1. Expletive Constructions (There is / There are, Here is / Here are)
The words there and here are never grammatical subjects. They function as expletives (syntactic placeholders or "dummy subjects"). In these sentences, look after the verb to identify the true subject:
Flawed: There is, according to the latest departmental audit, several discrepancies in the federal budget allocation.
Analysis: The expletive There opens the sentence. The parenthetical prepositional phrase according to the latest departmental audit intervenes. Following the verb is, we discover the true subject: several discrepancies (plural). A plural subject mandates the plural verb are.
Correct: There are, according to the latest departmental audit, several discrepancies in the federal budget allocation.
Flawed: Here is the revised guidelines for high school graduation requirements.
Correct: Here are the revised guidelines for high school graduation requirements.
2. Prepositional Phrase Openings
When a sentence begins with an emphatic locational or directional prepositional phrase, the verb often precedes the subject:
Flawed: Hanging on the administrative boardroom wall was the portraits of former district superintendents.
Analysis: Hanging on the administrative boardroom wall is an introductory prepositional/participial phrase. The true grammatical subject is portraits (plural). The verb must therefore be plural (were).
Correct: Hanging on the administrative boardroom wall were the portraits of former district superintendents.
Flawed: Across the courtyard stands two new science laboratories.
Correct: Across the courtyard stand two new science laboratories.
Compound Subjects and Coordinating Conjunctions
Compound subjects consist of two or more nouns joined by a conjunction. The choice of conjunction determines whether the verb must be singular or plural.
1. Subjects Joined by And
As a baseline rule, two or more subjects joined by the coordinating conjunction and form a compound subject and require a plural verb:
- The teacher and the student intern collaborate on weekly lesson plans.
- Both the third-grade diagnostic data and the sixth-grade benchmark exam indicate steady progress.
Exceptions to the And Rule:
There are two critical exceptions where subjects joined by and take a singular verb:
- Unified Conceptual Unit: When the two nouns joined by and combine to express a single, indivisible concept or object:
- Trial and error is fundamental to scientific discovery. (Not are)
- Macaroni and cheese is served in the cafeteria every Thursday. (A single dish)
- The hustle and bustle of campus life distracts some first-year students.
- Single Referent: When the two coordinate nouns refer to the exact same individual or professional title, marked by a single determiner (the, my, our):
- Our mentor and friend has retired. (One person who is both mentor and friend)
- Contrast: Our mentor and our friend have retired. (Two distinct individuals, signaled by repeating the possessive pronoun our).
2. Subjects Joined by Or / Nor (The Rule of Proximity)
When compound subjects are linked by or, nor, either...or, or neither...nor, the subjects are considered alternative rather than cumulative. In standard English, these constructions adhere to the rule of proximity: the verb must agree in number and person with the subject component that sits physically closest to the verb.
[Subject 1] or / nor [Subject 2 (Singular)] ──> [SINGULAR VERB]
[Subject 1] or / nor [Subject 2 (Plural)] ──> [PLURAL VERB]
▲ ▲
└───── Must Agree In Number ┘
Examine these contrasting examples:
- Singular Closest Subject: Neither the school administrators nor the reading coach is attending the seminar. (Coach is singular and nearest the verb ➔ is).
- Plural Closest Subject: Neither the reading coach nor the school administrators are attending the seminar. (Administrators is plural and nearest the verb ➔ are).
- Either/Or: Either the textbook coordinator or the classroom instructors maintain the inventory log. (Instructors is plural and nearest the verb ➔ maintain).
Test Tip: When evaluating neither...nor or either...or on the exam, draw a slash through everything before nor or or, and match the verb strictly to the noun immediately following the conjunction.
Tricky Subject Nouns: Form vs. Meaning
Certain English nouns present deceptive morphological markers that obscure their true grammatical number:
1. Plural in Form, Singular in Meaning
Several academic disciplines, physical ailments, and games end in -s but represent a single intellectual field or medical condition. These take singular verbs:
- Disciplines: mathematics, physics, economics, civics, statistics (as a branch of study), linguistics
- Mathematics is a required subtest on the Florida teacher licensing exam.
- Economics analyzes market incentives. (Note: When 'statistics' refers to numerical data points rather than the academic field, it is plural: 'The statistics prove the intervention worked.')
- Nouns of Singular Condition: news, measles, mumps, shingles
- The news regarding district budget cuts was received with concern.
2. Quantities of Time, Money, and Measurement
When expressing a specific quantity, amount of money, distance, or period of time as an entire collective sum, the subject is considered a single unit and takes a singular verb:
- Five hundred dollars was allocated to each classroom for instructional materials. (A single monetary sum)
- One hour and forty minutes is the testing time for the GK Mathematics subtest. (A single discrete duration)
- Ten miles represents a significant daily commute for rural educators. (A single unit of distance)
The Subject-Isolation Diagnostic Procedure for the FTCE
To eliminate distractor interference on FTCE subject-verb agreement questions, execute this systematic three-step isolation protocol:
Step 1: Locate the main predicate (verb phrase).
Step 2: Cross out intervening prepositional phrases, appositives, and additive clauses.
Step 3: Match the core subject's number to the verb.
- Locate the Finite Verb: Identify the main conjugated verb or auxiliary (is, are, has, have, were, demonstrates).
- Eliminate Modifying Debris: Place mental parentheses around all intervening prepositional phrases (of..., in..., for...), relative clauses (who..., which...), and additive phrases (along with..., as well as...).
- Identify the True Subject Anchor:
- In normal word order, find the unbracketed head noun preceding the verb.
- In inverted sentences (there, here, prepositional openings), look after the verb for the substantive head noun.
- In or / nor compound subjects, isolate the noun immediately adjacent to the verb.
- Verify S-Agreement: Check that singular subjects pair with singular verbs ending in -s, and plural subjects pair with uninflected base verbs.
Which sentence correctly maintains subject-verb agreement despite intervening phrases between the subject and the predicate?
The complete inventory of robotics kits, along with three spare microprocessor units, have been relocated to the high school STEM workshop.
The lead instructor for the introductory bilingual seminars, as well as several bilingual student mentors, are facilitating the orientation workshop.
The comprehensive diagnostic assessment for elementary reading deficiencies, in addition to several supplementary phonics modules, provides targeted instructional interventions.
The collection of rare Florida historical documents, including various early territorial maps and legislative charters, were donated to the university archive.
Which of the following sentences adheres strictly to standard subject-verb agreement conventions in an inverted sentence structure?
There is, according to the revised state administrative guidelines, several alternative certification pathways available to eligible candidates.
Across the eastern corridor of the newly renovated campus extends three state-of-the-art biological research laboratories.
Here is the official testing schedules and proctor assignments for the upcoming spring assessment window.
Deep within the archives of the historical society lie the original handwritten journals of the territorial governor.
Which sentence correctly applies the rule of proximity for compound subjects linked by correlative conjunctions?
Neither the district instructional specialist nor the school administrators were convinced that the proposed scheduling change would enhance student performance.
Neither the school administrators nor the district instructional specialist were convinced that the proposed scheduling change would enhance student performance.
Either the primary classroom teachers or the department head have to authorize the field trip release documentation.
Neither the reading coach nor the media specialist are planning to attend the regional technology seminar on Friday.
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.