Ignoring Interrupters: Prepositional & Other Phrases
Core Concepts
A key skill for the SAT/ACT is identifying the true subject when it's separated from the verb. Learn to mentally cross out prepositional phrases, appositives, and non-essential clauses to find the real subject.
Ignoring Interrupters: Prepositional & Other Phrases
1 of 12
What is the most effective strategy for handling sentences with interrupting phrases between the subject and the verb?
Mentally cross out the interrupting phrase to make the connection between the subject and the verb clear. The subject is NEVER inside a prepositional phrase.
Identify the subject and choose the correct verb: "The list of student names (was/were) posted on the door."
Subject: "list" (singular). Verb: "was". Cross out the prepositional phrase "of student names."
Phrases that begin with "along with," "as well as," "in addition to," or "together with" are not part of the subject. How do they affect the verb?
They do not affect the verb. Ignore these phrases when matching the subject and verb. The verb agrees only with the main subject.
Choose the correct verb: "The captain, as well as the players, (is/are) excited for the game."
"is". The subject is "captain" (singular). The phrase "as well as the players" is an interrupter.
What is a non-essential clause, and how does it affect subject-verb agreement?
It's a clause that provides extra information and is usually set off by commas (e.g., starting with 'who' or 'which'). It does not affect subject-verb agreement; ignore it to find the true subject.
Identify the subject and choose the correct verb: "The car, which has two flat tires, (needs/need) to be repaired."
Subject: "car" (singular). Verb: "needs". The clause "which has two flat tires" is a non-essential interrupter.
Choose the correct verb: "The results of the experiment (confirms/confirm) our hypothesis."
"confirm". The subject is "results" (plural). Cross out the phrase "of the experiment."
Choose the correct verb: "The politician, together with the newsmen, (is/are) expected shortly."
"is". The subject is "politician" (singular). Cross out "together with the newsmen."
Choose the correct verb: "The samples on the tray in the lab (needs/need) to be tested."
"need". The subject is "samples" (plural). Cross out the two prepositional phrases "on the tray" and "in the lab."
Choose the correct verb: "One of the most common mistakes (involves/involve) punctuation."
"involves". The subject is the singular pronoun "One." Cross out the phrase "of the most common mistakes."
What is an appositive phrase and how does it affect subject-verb agreement?
An appositive renames a nearby noun and is usually set off by commas. Like other interrupters, it should be ignored when determining subject-verb agreement. Example: "My friend, a brilliant artist, *is* visiting."
Choose the correct verb: "The winner of all the recent tournaments (is/are) from our town."
"is". The subject is "winner" (singular). Cross out the prepositional phrase "of all the recent tournaments."
