In Subject–Verb Agreement the subject sat right next to its verb. Often it doesn’t. A phrase can come between them, like the prepositional phrase of old crayons here:
The verb still agrees with the subject, box, not with crayons. A noun inside a prepositional phrase is the object of the preposition, and it is never the subject.
Key idea
Cross out the phrase between the subject and the verb. Then read the subject and the verb together: “The box … is.”
Why it works
Readers hold the subject in mind while they read the phrase. The verb then tells them which word was the subject all along. If the verb agrees with a nearby noun instead, it points the reader to the wrong word.
Worked example: A plural noun in the phrase
The list of chores (is / are) on the fridge.
- Find the verb and ask who or what is/are on the fridge: the list.
- Of chores is a prepositional phrase. Cross it out.
- The list is.
Answer: The list of chores is on the fridge.
Worked example: A singular noun in the phrase
The players on the team (has / have) new shirts.
- The subject is players, which is plural.
- On the team is a phrase. Cross it out.
- The players have.
Answer: The players on the team have new shirts.
Worked example: Along with, as well as
The coach, along with her players, (was / were) on the bus.
- Phrases like along with, as well as and together with add extra information.
- They don’t join subjects the way and does, so the subject is still coach.
- The coach was.
Answer: The coach, along with her players, was on the bus.
Common mistake
Making the verb agree with the nearest noun: “The list of items are long.” Items is inside the phrase of items, so it can’t be the subject. Cross out the phrase and read what is left: “The list … is long.”