Keep or keeps

Question

what is the right word - keep or keeps??

Addressing disruptive behavior through restorative ‘circles’ — which keep children in their learning environment, reduces suspensions, and creates a safe school culture.

Clive · Accepted Answer

If you use a dash, you are leaving the reader to try to figure out what you mean. Does 'which' refer to 'circles'? Or does 'which' refer to the whole gerund phrase, ie Addressing disruptive behavior through restorative ‘circles’?

I'd remove the dash.

If you want 'which' to refer to 'circles', rely on plural tenses and say

eg Addressing disruptive behavior through restorative ‘circles’, which keep children in their learning environment, reduce suspensions, and create a safe school culture.

If you want it to refer to the whole phrase, rely on singular tenses and say

eg Addressing disruptive behavior through restorative ‘circles’, which keeps children in their learning environment, reduces suspensions, and creates a safe school culture.

I assume you know that what you have posted is not a complete sentence. It seems like some kind of title.

Clive

GPY · Answer

Both are possible, but "keep(s) ... reduce(s) ... create(s)" has to be consistent. With "keep ... reduce ... create", "which" is understood to refer to "restorative 'circles'". With "keeps ... reduces ... creates", "which" is understood to refer to "addressing disruptive behaviour ...". For me, the former may seem to emphasise the literal meaning of "circles" a bit too much, so I think I would choose the latter. However, opinions may vary.

(Cross-posted.)

Keep or keeps

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