Prepositional phrases between the subject and the verb are a common occurrence in the English language. They can add detail and context to a sentence, but they can also cause confusion when it comes to subject-verb agreement.

However, it is important to note that prepositional phrases between the subject and the verb do not affect agreement. The subject and verb must agree regardless of any additional phrases in the sentence.

For example, take the sentence “The cat on the windowsill is sleeping.” The subject is “cat” and the verb is “is sleeping.” The prepositional phrase “on the windowsill” adds detail to the sentence but does not affect the agreement between the subject and verb.

Another example is “My friends from college are studying abroad.” The subject is “friends” and the verb is “are studying.” The prepositional phrase “from college” provides additional information but does not change the agreement between the subject and verb.

It is important to remember that prepositional phrases do not determine subject-verb agreement. The only thing that matters is the relationship between the subject and verb. If they are singular, the verb must be singular. If they are plural, the verb must be plural.

In some cases, prepositional phrases can be misleading. For example, consider the sentence “The group of dancers is practicing.” The prepositional phrase “of dancers” may suggest that the subject is plural, but in this case, “group” is singular, so the verb must also be singular.

In conclusion, prepositional phrases between the subject and verb do not affect agreement. Subject-verb agreement is determined solely by the relationship between the subject and verb, regardless of any additional phrases in the sentence. It is important to be aware of prepositional phrases and how they can sometimes be misleading, but ultimately, the subject and verb must always agree.