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JulieO Posted 5 years ago
Grammar

Possessive noun verb agreement

Does the verb need to agree with the noun doing the possessing or the noun being possessed? My first grader's teacher says the noun doing the possessing, but it doesn't seem right to me. Example:

The leaves' color changes with the seasons.

The leaves' color change with the seasons.

Speaking of just one color but more than one leaf.

I've gotten 2 different answers from another website. I think that the first one is correct, because the color is changing, not the leaves. But the teacher says otherwise.

Thank you for your help,


Julie

  

Top answer

JulieO I've gotten 2 different answers from another website. That's the trouble with the Internet, isn't it? JulieO I think that the first one is correct, because the color is changing, not the leaves.

— Anonymous

  • JulieO I've gotten 2 different answers from another website.
  • That's the trouble with the Internet, isn't it?
  • JulieO I think that the first one is correct, because the color is changing, not the leaves.
  • Well, yeah.
  • "Color" is the subject, and the verb has to agree with that.
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2 Answers
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JulieOI've gotten 2 different answers from another website.

That's the trouble with the Internet, isn't it?

JulieOI think that the first one is correct, because the color is changing, not the leaves.

Well, yeah. "Color" is the subject, and the verb has to agree with that. It's a no-brainer. That said, the sentence

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JulieODoes the verb need to agree with the noun doing the possessing or the noun being possessed?

the noun being possessed (if it's the subject of the sentence, of course)

Tom's gloves are on the table.
The puppies' food costs a fortune.

JulieOThe leaves' color changes with the seasons.
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