WRITTEN EXPRESSION 95

Srurr 1 1: AGREEMENT AFTER PREPOSITTONAL PHRASES

Subjectiverb agreement is simpie: if the subject of a sentence is singular, then the
verb must be singular; if the subject of the sentence is plural, then the verb nrust
be plural. An s on a verb trsually indicates that a ver-b is singular, ri'l-rile an s on a
noun ustrallv indicates that the noun is plural. (Do nr,rt forget irregular plurals of
nouns such as v)on7en, children, and people.)
The dog at night.
ry\!
Tlre dogs bgt ut night.

In the first erample, the singular subject dog reqvires a singular verb, barks. In
the second example, the plural subiect dogs requires a plural verb, bark.
Sometimes prepositional phrases can come betrveen the subject and the yerb
on the TOEFL test, and this can calrse confusion. If the object of the preposition is
singular and the suL-rject is plural, or if the object of the preposition is plural and
the subject is singular, ther-e can be a problem ir-r making the subject ancl verb
agree.

The door (to the i'ooms) et:" locked.

SINGL;I,AR PLL]RAL

The doors (to the room) is" locked.

PLURAL SINGL]LAR
("- indicales an error)
In the first exanrple, vclt-t nright think that rctonts is the subiect because it contes
directly in tront of the verb cLre. Hourever, roon6 is not the subject because it is
the object of the preposition /o. The subject of the sentence is door, so the verb
should be is. In the second example, you might think that roont is the subject
because it comes directlv in front ofthe verb is. You shoulcl recognize in this
erample that room is not the subject because it is the object of the preposition /o.
Because the subject of the sentence rs doors, the verb should be are.

The follorving chart outlines the kev information that vou should understand
erbout subject/r,erb agreement r,r,ith prepositional phrases.

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT WITH PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

S (prepositional phrase) V

When a prepositional phrase comes between the subiect and the verb, be sure that the
verb agrees with the subject.
 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

EXERCISE 11: Each of the following sentences has one or more prepositional
phrases between the subject and verb. Put parentheses around the prepositional
phrases. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Then indicate
if the sen-
tences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

C 1. The subject (of the lectures) rva! quite interesting.

i 2. The strpplies (for the campin-e trip) needs to be packed.

3. The chairs under the table in the dining room is quite comforlable.

4. The plavers on the u'inning team in the con-rpetition were very talented.

5. The food for the guests at the paftv are on the rong tables.

6. The cost of the clothes was higher than I had expected.

7. The rugs in the front rooms of the house are going to be washecl today.

8. The selrers in this restaurant alr,r,ays does their job efficientlv.

9. The lights in the corner of the room neecl to be kept on all night.

10. The nreeting of the members of the council begins at 3:00 in the afternoon.

-
Sxtr- 12: AGREEMENT AFTER EXPRESSTONS OF eURNTtTy_
A parlicular agreement problem occllrs rvhen the subject is an expression of quan-
tity such as all, nlost, or sonrc followed by the preposition of. Inthis situation, the
subject (all, most, or sonte) can be singular or plural, depending on rvhat follorvs
the preposition of,

Ug_r1
("f rhe nteal) u,as delicious.
,r^"uro*
Ug$ ("f the meals) were delicious.
..--
a'-r*o,-

4g$ (of the food) wa: delicious.

UNCOT]NTABLE

In the first example, the subject ntost refers to the singular noun meal, so the cor-
rect verb is therefore the singular verb r,r'as. In the second example, the subject
most refers to the plural noun nrcals, so the correct verb is the plural verb were. In
the third example, the subjectnTost refers to the uncountable noun
fbod, sothe
correct verb is therefore the singular verb lt,a.s.
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION 97

Thcse sentences contain examples of the tvpes of problems that are common
on the TOEFL test.
All (o{'t}rc book) \qfc." intercsting.
Hall (of the stuclents) is" l:rte to class.
ln the first exilmple, tlie plurarl r,erb rl,er? shoulcl be the singular verb ll'rrs because
the subject n// refers to the singular nolrn book.In the second erample, the singu-
lar verb ls should be the plural verb are because the subject half'refers to the plu-
ral noun studerils.
The follou'ing chart outlines tlie ke-v information that vou should understancl
about sub.ject/r,erb agreentent erfter erpressions of qrlantitri

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT AFTER EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY

I att
mosr
'l
I some I f------------
(object)
{ half I of the V

I\ part I
I

When an expression of quantity using of is the subject,the verb agrees with the object.

EXERCISE 12: Each of the follori,ing sentences has a quantitv e.rpression as the
subicct. Underline the subjects once and the r,erbs trvice. Circle the oblects that the
rterbs agree u,ith. Then indicate if the scntences erre col't-ect (C) or incorrect (I).

C 1 . Half of the @ in thc class :rn-ive earh..

- L- Z. 9qnrS of the @D,qry r'otten.

3. All of the ncxt chapter contains ven inrportant in{-ormntion.
.:1. Most of the people in the roonr is pzn'ing attcntion.

5. Parrt of the sotrp is le.f't on the. stove.

6. Some of the movie u,cr-e.jr-rst too r,ioient for me.

7. All of the details in the rcport needs to be chccked.

8. Most of the rnoncv is neecled to pav thc bills.

98 SIRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

9. The hrst half of the class consists of lecture and note takins.

10. Sorne of the queslions on the test was impossible to ansu'er.

Srcu 13: AGREEMENT AFTER CERTAIN WORDS

Certain u,ords in English are alrt'avs gralnmaticallv singular, even though the-t-
might hare pltrnrl rrcaninss.
_E1ert'b15il-in the theater glgfgehilg" the film attentivel_v.

Even thotr-eh r,r,'c trnderstancl fi-orn this example that a lot of people are u'atching
the film, evervbod.t' is singular and requires a singular verb. The plural verb are
v,atchhtg should be changed to the singular verb ls vtatching.
The following chalt lists the grammaticall,v singular u'ords that have plural
meanings.

SUBJECTruERB AGREEMENT AFTER CERTAIN WORDS

These words or expressions are grammatically singular, so they take singular verbs:
anybody everybody nobody somebody each (+ noun)
anyone everyone no one someone every (+ noun)
anything everything nothing something

EXERCISE 13: Each of the follor.r,ing sentences contains one of the',r'ords that is
grammaticallv singular but has a ph-rrai meaning. Underline these rvords once and
underline the verbs trvice. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incor-
rect (I).

I- 1. Anvbodl are- u,elcome at the partr''.

,-C 2. No onr' he le is airaicl of skvclir,ing.

3. Er,ervone in the r,'orirj neecls love and respect.

-1. Somcone har,'e to clean up tl-re house.

5. Ezrclr plant in the garcien appear healthv and strong.

6. Ycrr-r shoLrld understand that anvthing is possible.

7. Everlthins in the salad are good for vou.

 WRITTEN EXPRESSION 99

B. Nobody in the class ha'e completed the assignment on time.

9. I am sure that every detail have been considerec.

10. Everybody know the rules, but somebody is not follorving them.
--

EXERCISE (Skills 11-13): Each of the following sentences may have a problem
with subject/verb agreement. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice.
Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

L The receptionist in the entry'\'ay to the offices is able to answer vour

questions.

2. Nl of the information in the documents are important.

3. Anyone in one of the classes has to take the final exam.

4. The coordinator of communitv services are arranging the program.

5. Most of the car are covered with mud.

6. Nothing more is going to be completed today.

7. The drinks in the pitchers on the table in the ballroom is for everyone.

8. Everybody were told to be here at B:00, but somebody is not here.

9. Some of the meetings at the conference are limited to ten participants.

10. The sauce on the vegetables in the yellow bowl taste really delicious.
--
lOO STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 11-13): Choose the letter of the underlined word or
group of r,r,ords that is not correct.

1. Nobody,'!ryry u,hen the process of glass-making r.r,,as inr,'ented.

ABCD
2. Sugars like glucose is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxvgen atoms,
ABCD
3. Part of the electricitv used in the United States todav come {rom
A- BC
hvdroelectric sources.
D
4. The' languages of the world presents a rrast amav of structural similarities and
ABC
differences.
D
5. The rise of multinationals have resulted in a great deal of legal ambiguitv
AB
because multinationals can operate in so many jurisdictions.
cD
6. All of the east-west interstate highwavs in the United States has even
A
numbers, rvhile north-south interstate highwavs are odd-numbered.
BCO
7. When a massive star in the large Magellanic Cloud exploded in 1987, a wave
AB
of neutrinos were detected on Eafth.
CD
8. Some of the agricultural practices used today is responsible for fostering

clesertification.ABcD
9. Every open space in the targeted area that has grass and a few bushes are
AB--
occupied b1' the r,"'hite-cror.r,ned sparrou'.
D
10. Krakatoa is remembered as the volcano that put so much ash into the air that
AB
- slursets arouncl the world r.r,as affected for two vears afterward.