MS Word is correcting this sentence:
"Most of the search tools listed below include..."
,,, and suggesting that the word 'include' be changed to 'incudes':
"Most of the search tools listed below includes..."
Which is correct?
2007-03-25 06:07:40 · 2 answers · asked by RogerDodger 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
You are correct. "Most" implies more than one, so the verb should be plural as well.
2007-03-25 06:15:31 · answer #1 · answered by MateoFalcone 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Correct: Most ... include... Plural subject agrees with plural predicate.
Point: The prepositional phrase, 'of the search tools listed below' is an adjectivial phrase that modifies the subject, 'Most'. To analyze subject/verb agreement, pluck the prepositional phrase out of the sentence. As your question correctly implies, it is the subject, not an adjective phrase, that must agree with the predicate.
It is worth learning to parse a sentence, including drawing sentence diagrams. You then gain the ability to analyze a sentence by treating any word, or group of words, as a part-of-speech component.
As you've just shown, grammar checkers aren't very good. Nothing in software substitutes for your own strong analysis.
2007-03-25 12:41:53 · answer #2 · answered by VT 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋