Sometimes prepositional phrases can come between the subject and the verb. If the object of the preposition is singular and the subject is plural, or if the object of the preposition is plural and the subject is singular, there can be confusion in making the subject and verb agree.
The key (to the doors) are in the drawer.
singular plural
The keys (to the door) is in the drawer.
plural singular
In the first example you might think that doors is the subject because it comes directly in front of the verb are. However, doors is not the subject because it is the object of the preposition to. The subject of the sentence is key, so the verb should be is. In the second example you might think that door is the subject because it comes directly in front of the verb is. you should recognize in this example that door is not the subject because it is the object of the preposition to. Because the subject of the sentence is keys, the verb should be are.
SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT WITH PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
S PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE V
When a prepositional phrase comes between the subject and the verb, be sure that the verb agrees with the subject.
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