Page 75 - Grammar for Great Writing B

Common Error 5.2 Does the verb after a prepositional phrase agree with the subject?

are
According to the report, this year’s exam scores from Westport High School is higher than ever before.
has
The President of the United States have the power to veto a bill that Congress passes.

RemembeR: The verb following an object of a preposition agrees with the subject of the
sentence, not the object of the prepositional phrase.

ACTIVITY 6 Common Error 5.2

In each sentence, circle the correct verb form in parentheses.

1. Having two or three computer monitors per computer (is / are) the norm now in many offices.

Although this is more expensive to maintain, it is worth the expense because studies have shown that
office workers with one monitor (get / gets) distracted more easily clicking between tabs than they do
when moving between monitors.

2. All people in the world (need / needs) the same basic things. We all need shelter, food, and
companionship. Unfortunately, homeless people have to find a way to survive without all of

these things. In many large cities, homelessness (is / are) an especially serious problem.

3. The states in the middle of the United States (is / are) called the Bread Basket because most of
the country’s wheat (come / comes) from this area. In fact, the amount of wheat from these states
(is / are) enough to make billions of loaves of bread annually.

4. Cell phones are a convenient way to communicate with one another. However, cell phones in
the hands of children (have / has) many other important uses as well. Children in some countries
in Africa (learn / learns) to read on cell phones because cell phones can be easier to get than books.
Another use for cell phones (is / are) medical. Doctors in some developing countries (use / uses)
cell phones to provide health care.

Common Errors 65

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