Subject Verb Agreement while using Prepositional Phrases

Subject Verb Agreement while using Prepositional Phrases

Example

A box of knives was found at the scene.

A combination of factors was the cause of the crash.

Bernard Shaw hasn't an enemy in the world, and none of his friends like him. (said by Oscar Wilde)

Most of the cake has been eaten.

Most of the cakes have been eaten.

Some of the worst mistakes of my life have been haircuts. (Singer Jim Morrison)

Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right. more than half the time. (Writer Elwyn Brooks White) ("Half" is plural because "people" is plural.)

Half of the world knows not how the other half lives.

(Poet George Herbert) ("Half" is singular because "world" is singular.)

Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.

(US politician Henry Kissinger)

("Ninety percent" is plural because "politicians" is plural.)

My guess is that well over eighty percent of the human race goes without having a single original thought. (Satirist HL Mencken)

("Eighty percent" is singular and "human race" is singular.)

A list of faults has been found out.

Some of the treasure is mine.

Some of the coins are hers.

Placing Prepositional Phrase is important:

One morning, I met a stranger in my pyjamas. (incorrect)

One morning, I, in my pyjamas, met a stranger. (correct)

Joe fed the shark in the cage. (incorrect)

Joe was in the cage when he fed the shark. (correct)

oe fed the shark that was in the cage. (correct)

We will not sell jam to anyone in glass bottles. (incorrect)

We will not sell jam in glass bottles to anyone. (correct)