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CraigM23 Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Help with subject-verb agreement
The sentence: The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy standing nearby, both laugh.
I have two questions about this sentence, regarding the word both and the word laugh. First, is both unnecessary? (Seems correct to me using laugh.) Second, should it be laugh or laughs, becuase if it just the old man it would be laughs. (The old man laughs. They laugh.) Not sure.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Craig
I have two questions about this sentence, regarding the word both and the word laugh. First, is both unnecessary? (Seems correct to me using laugh.) Second, should it be laugh or laughs, becuase if it just the old man it would be laughs. (The old man laughs. They laugh.) Not sure.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Craig
Top answer
Hi The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy standing nearby, both laugh. The old man = subject 1 who I thought had fallen alseep = modifies the subject 1 along with = conjunction other guy standing nearby = modified subject 2 The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy standing nearby, = compound subject, of which both are modified. This is the same as Peter and Paul Peter and paul (both) laugh -- OK How about them: The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy , were standing nearby , both/0 laugh ing .
- Hi The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy standing nearby, both laugh.
- The old man = subject 1 who I thought had fallen alseep = modifies the subject 1 along with = conjunction other guy standing nearby = modified subject 2 The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy standing nearby, = compound subject, of which both are modified.
- This is the same as Peter and Paul Peter and paul (both) laugh -- OK How about them: The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy , were standing nearby , both/0 laugh ing .
- or The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy standing nearby , were both/0 laugh ing .
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1 Answers
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Hi
The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy standing nearby, both laugh.
The old man = subject 1
who I thought had fallen alseep = modifies the subject 1
along with = conjunction
other guy standing nearby = modified subject 2
The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy standing nearby,
The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy standing nearby, both laugh.
The old man = subject 1
who I thought had fallen alseep = modifies the subject 1
along with = conjunction
other guy standing nearby = modified subject 2
The old man, who I thought had fallen alseep, along with this other guy standing nearby,
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