THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Reading with an eye for subject-verb agreement
The following passage, from a 1990 essay questioning a “traditional” view of marriage, includes several instances of complicated subject-verb agreement. Note the rules governing subject-verb agreement in each case.
Marriage seems to me more conflict-ridden than ever, and the divorce rate—with or without new babies in the house—remains constant. The fabric of men-and-women-as-they-once-were is so thin in places no amount of patching can weave that cloth together again. The longing for connection may be strong, but even stronger is the growing perception that only people who are real to themselves can connect. Two shall be as one is over, no matter how lonely we get.
—VIVIAN GORNICK, “Who Says We Haven’t Made a Revolution?”
Question
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The following passage, from a 1990 essay questioning a “traditional” view of marriage, includes several instances of complicated subject-verb agreement. Note the rules governing subject-verb agreement in each case. Marriage seems to me more conflict-ridden than ever, and the divorce rate—with or without new babies in the house—remains constant. The fabric of men-and-women-as-they-once-were is so thin in places no amount of patching can weave that cloth together again. The longing for connection may be strong, but even stronger is the growing perception that only people who are real to themselves can connect. Two shall be as one is over, no matter how lonely we get. —VIVIAN GORNICK, “Who Says We Haven’t Made a Revolution?”
Thinking about your own use of subject-verb agreement
Visiting relatives is / are treacherous. Either verb makes a grammatically acceptable sentence, yet the verbs result in two very different statements. Write a brief explanation of the two possible meanings. Then write a paragraph or two about visiting relatives. Using the information in this chapter, examine each subject and its verb. Do you maintain subject-verb agreement throughout? Revise to correct any errors you find. If you find any patterns, make a note to yourself of things to look for routinely as you revise your writing.
Question
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Visiting relatives is / are treacherous. Either verb makes a grammatically acceptable sentence, yet the verbs result in two very different statements. Write a brief explanation of the two possible meanings. Then write a paragraph or two about visiting relatives. Using the information in this chapter, examine each subject and its verb. Do you maintain subject-verb agreement throughout? Revise to correct any errors you find. If you find any patterns, make a note to yourself of things to look for routinely as you revise your writing.