The subject of the verb?

Question

SalaamWhat's the subject of the verb, "allows", in the last sentence of the following paragraph please? Is it incorrect (since the subject of the verb has not been clearly declared)?"The service is publicly accessible from any point in a network via public Internet access. This allows customers to get new sites up and running allows fast set up of sites in minutes with local staff instead of hours or days."

BillJ · Accepted Answer

SeyyedAliWhat's the subject of the verb, "allows", in the last sentence of the following paragraph please? Is it incorrect (since the subject of the verb has not been clearly declared)?

Not quite: it is incorrect, but it has nothing to do with not knowing what the subject is. The problem is the way the last verb phrase is connected to the preceding phrase or clause. There are several ways to fix it, for example:

1. Insert "and" between "running" and "allow":

This [allows customers to get new sites up and running] and [allows fast set up of sites in minutes with local staff instead of hours or days].

Here the two bracketed elements form a coordination of verb phrases (predicates), each with "this" as subject.

2. Replace "allows" with "allowing":

This allows customers to get new sites up and running, allowing fast set up of sites in minutes with local staff instead of hours or days.

Here the underlined element is a non-finite clause serving as an adjunct, and like most non-finites it has no overt subject. Nevertheless the understood subject is the preceding clause "customers to get new sites up and running".

AlpheccaStars · Answer

SeyyedAliIs it incorrect (since the subject of the verb has not been clearly declared)?

Yes.

The subject of the verb?

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