Page 629 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing
P. 629
Problems in subject-verb agreement are also likely to occur when a
subject follows the verb. In most English sentences, the subject
comes before the verb. However, the subject follows the verb in these
situations:
1. When the sentence begins with here or there
2. When the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase that is
immediately followed by a verb
3. When the sentence is a question
Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement When
the Subject Follows the Verb
There are no more tissues left in the box.
The plural subject tissues requires the plural verb are. The word there
is not the subject of the sentence.
On top of the refrigerator sit Doria’s lost keys.
The prepositional phrases on top and of the refrigerator are
immediately followed by a verb. Because the subject is never found in
a prepositional phrase, it must be located somewhere after the verb.
The plural verb sit agrees with the plural subject keys.
What was the answer to the first question? (The singular subject
answer follows the singular verb was.)
