Sentence structure can be intimidating, especially when it involves intervening phrases and clauses. However, when it comes to subject-verb agreement, this structure is crucial to ensure clear and effective communication. In this article, we will explore how to construct a sentence with subject-verb agreement with intervening phrases and clauses.
To begin, let’s define what we mean by intervening phrases and clauses. These are parts of a sentence that come between the subject and the verb. They provide additional information and context to the sentence, but they can also complicate subject-verb agreement.
For example, take a look at this sentence: “The cat, who always meows loudly at night, is sleeping on the couch.” The phrase “who always meows loudly at night” is an intervening clause that provides more information about the cat. However, it can be tricky to determine what the subject of the sentence is and how it should agree with the verb.
To ensure subject-verb agreement with intervening phrases and clauses, you need to identify the subject of the sentence. In the example above, the subject is “the cat,” not “who always meows loudly at night.” Therefore, the verb “is” needs to agree with “cat” in number and tense.
Let’s use another example: “The athletes, who have been training for months, are ready for the competition.” The phrase “who have been training for months” is an intervening clause that provides more information about the athletes. Again, we need to identify the subject of the sentence, which is “athletes.” In this case, “are” correctly agrees with “athletes” in number.
It’s also important to pay attention to the tense of the sentence. For example: “The bird, which has been singing all day, will fly away soon.” The phrase “which has been singing all day” is an intervening clause that provides more information about the bird. The verb “will fly” needs to agree with “bird” in tense, which it does correctly in this sentence.
In summary, when constructing a sentence with intervening phrases and clauses, it’s important to first identify the subject of the sentence. The verb needs to agree with the subject in number and tense. By following these basic guidelines, you can ensure that your sentences are clear, effective, and grammatically correct. As a professional, I can attest to the importance of subject-verb agreement in creating content that is both engaging and optimized for search engines.