0
Beatgmat Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Subject Verb Agreement

Hi Teachers,

In this sentence:

"I am a student who possess a year of experience in selling forzen chicken."

Should the verb "possess " with es or without?
IMO since it is refer to first person "I", it should be possess rather than possesses.
But, in Microsoft Word, the grammar checking told me it is incorrect.

Which one is the correct answer?

Thanks Teachers!
  

Top answer

Hi, Microsoft word grammar checking is correct. As you said 'I' is the subject. But here, the verb 'possesses' agree with the subject 'who' which is a relative pronoun and the 'antecedent' of the subject 'I'.

— Toms Mathew

  • Hi, Microsoft word grammar checking is correct.
  • As you said 'I' is the subject.
  • But here, the verb 'possesses' agree with the subject 'who' which is a relative pronoun and the 'antecedent' of the subject 'I'.
  • I hope you might have got it.
  • Thanks.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
Hi,

Microsoft word grammar checking is correct.

As you said 'I' is the subject. But here, the verb 'possesses' agree with the subject 'who' which is a relative pronoun and the 'antecedent' of the subject 'I'.

I hope you might have got it.

Thanks.
0
0
I understand your explanation. Thanks Toms Mathew.

May I ask one more question?

Are the relative pronouns such as 'that' and 'which' also third person and singular?
0
0
Hi,

In my answer there is a mistake.

'Who' is the antecedent of 'student' not 'I'.

I regret it.

Thank you.
0
0
Thanks Tom!

The singular verb is refer to 'student' instead of 'who'.
So, for choosing between singular or plural verb, I should look at the antecedent of 'who'.

Please correct me if I got it wrong.

Thanks again!
0

Related Questions