Subjects With Complex Modifiers

Don’t Say: Gloria realized that the functions of Ralph’s expensive new computer was about to be explained to her in detail.
Say Instead: Gloria realized that the functions of Ralph’s expensive new computer were about to be explained to her in detail.

Here’s Why: The subject of the verb “were” is “func¬tions,” and because “functions” is plural, it needs a plural verb: functions were. The sentence only gets confusing because of the phrase “of Ralph’s expensive new computer.” That phrase is parked right next to the verb, doing its best to look like a subject. But it’s not; it’s a mere modifier. Its sole purpose is to tell us something about the verb’s real subject, “functions.” When you’re trying to make a sentence’s subject and verb agree, then, the first thing you have to do is make sure you’ve got the real subject, not a measly little modifier trying to put on airs.

Here are some more correct examples of verbs that agree with subjects rather than their modifiers:

The people with the cute racing stripe on their truck
were driving in the center of the road.
(“Were” agrees with “people,” not “stripe” or “truck.”)

The telephone with all the fancy buttons and lights
was far too complicated for me to use.
(“Was” agrees with “telephone,” not “buttons and lights.”)

We’ll be seeing a lot more of this kind of error later on, particularly in the tests for this chapter. Complex modifiers can be a complicating factor in the other two kinds of errors that give people the most trouble in this area: agreement between compound subjects and verbs, and agreement with indefinite pronouns. Let’s take them one at a time.