Lesson 29: Intervening Words and Phrases

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Example 1 -

Incorrect: Justin's attention to the plants and animals, deserve a consideration.

Correct: Justin's attention to the plants and animals, deserves a consideration.


>>>The subject of the sentence is 'Justin's attention' not 'the plants and animals'. Therefore we use 'deserves'.

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Example 2 -

Incorrect: Thinking about the typhoon's strong winds give Ana nightmares.

Correct: Thinking about the typhoon's strong winds gives Ana nightmares.


>>>The subject of the sentence is 'the thinking of Ana' not the 'typhoon's strong winds'. Therefore we use 'gives'.

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Add-on: Sometimes subjects are followed by phrases set off with commas. These phrases, which begin with words and expressions like like, as well as, along with, and together with, also do not affect the normal subject-verb relationship.


Example 1: My parents, as well as my cousins, go to the party. ('as well as my cousins' is simply an intervening phrase. Therefore we use 'go' since the subject of the sentence is plural - 'my parents'.)

Example 2: Justin, along with his friends, goes to the party. ('along with his friends' is simply an intervening phrase. Therefore we use 'goes' since the subject of the sentence is singular - 'Justin'.)



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Exercise:


Choose the appropriate verb for the following sentences:


1.) A string on my electric guitar (is, are) out of tune.

2.) Days during summer (seem, seems) to pass very quickly.

3.) All stars, just like our sun, (has, have) a system of planets.

4.) Justin's stamp and coin collections, as well as his art gallery (was, were) saved from the flood.

5.) My brother Harry, along with Justin and Jesse, (has, have) forgotten to drink the milk.

6.) Those who drive to work always (complain, complains) about the traffic.

7.) The light from the new mercury lamps (brighten, brightens) the sidewalk.



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~end of lesson~