| A digital memory card containing photographs of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and their children (was/were) stolen. | |
subject: "a digital memory card containing photographs of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and their children"
participial phrase: "containing photographs of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and their children"
prepositional phrase: "of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and their children"
verb: "was/were stolen"
- The simple subject, "memory card," is singular.
- The object of the participle "containing" is "photographs," which is plural. The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying "memory card."
- The object of the prepositional phrase is "Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and their children," which is plural. The prepositional phrase functions as an adjective modifying "photographs."
- The verb should agree in number with the subject, not the object of the participle or the object of the preposition.
| A digital memory card containing photographs of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and their children was stolen. | |
- Review subject/verb agreement.
Source: "Pitt/Jolie Legal Threat." 25 Jun. 2006. TMZ.com. 25 June 2006. <http://www.tmz.com/2006/06/25/pitt-jolie-legal-threat/>.
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