Doubt about subject verb agreement
Dear all,
Subject Verb agreement some times create problem for me as a non native speaker. Kindly see the following sentences which confuse me. I have seen the following sentences in a grammar book. I would like to know whether the explanation of the grammar book is correct or not.
[1] According to the Police, the killer of the boys in both cities is probably hiding in New York.
(Here the grammar book says "killer" is the subject and "is" is the verb)
[2] Meteors and meteorites slamming into the Earth worries Mr.John; he tries to remain under the protective cover of this roof as much as possible
(Here the grammar book says "slamming" is the subject and "worries" is the verb)
[3] That George Orwell was one of the most talented writers is an understatement to those who are really familiar with the field of literature.
(Here the book says "is" is the verb and "understatement" is the subject).
Thank you.
Top answer
The grammar book is wrong about a couple of things. What is it called and who is the author? [1] is correct: the head word of the noun phrase subject is the singular noun "killer" so the verb should be the singular "worries" In [2] the subject is not "slamming".
- The grammar book is wrong about a couple of things.
- What is it called and who is the author?
- [1] is correct: the head word of the noun phrase subject is the singular noun "killer" so the verb should be the singular "worries" In [2] the subject is not "slamming".
- Strictly speaking the subject is ambiguous between a gerund-participial clause and a noun phrase, hence either verb form would be possible: if a clause, the singular "worries" is correct; if a noun phrase, the plural verb "worry".
- In [3] the subject is not "understatement"; it is the clause "that George Orwell was one of the most talented writers", which takes the singular verb, "is".
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The grammar book is wrong about a couple of things. What is it called and who is the author?
[1] is correct: the head word of the noun phrase subject is the singular noun "killer" so the verb should be the singular "worries"
In [2] the subject is not "slamming". Strictly speaking the subject is ambiguous between a gerund-participial clause and a noun phrase, hence either verb
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