The evolution of both dog and child psychology have followed similar path.
"The evolution(S) of both dog and child psychology have followed(V) similar path."
The above sentence is from the book I study. I think the verb of this sentence should be 'has followed' not 'have followed'. How do you native speakers think of that?
Top answer
Michelle Cha The evolution of both dog and child psychology have followed similar path s . In spite of the technically incorrect subject-verb agreement in this sentence, which you have correctly pointed out, I find it acceptable to my ear. I think that I change it mentally as I read it so that it says [The evolution of dog psychology] and [the evolution of child psychology] have followed similar paths.
- Michelle Cha The evolution of both dog and child psychology have followed similar path s .
- In spite of the technically incorrect subject-verb agreement in this sentence, which you have correctly pointed out, I find it acceptable to my ear.
- I think that I change it mentally as I read it so that it says [The evolution of dog psychology] and [the evolution of child psychology] have followed similar paths.
- I don't recommend writing it as it was in your book, but I can't say that it impresses me as a terrible mistake either.
- I suppose the word "both" distracts me enough from the true structure of the sentence that I think "both have", and it sounds all right.
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Michelle ChaThe evolution of both dog and child psychology have followed similar paths.
In spite of the technically incorrect subject-verb agreement in this sentence, which you have correctly pointed out, I find it acceptable to my ear. I think that I change it mentally as I read it so that it says
[The evolut
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