The Problem
Which is correct: "The cost of new books is dropping,” or “The cost of new books are dropping"?
The Explanation
To determine whether to use is or are in such a sentence, you need to understand that you are dealing with the Number of a verb. There are two numbers in grammar &ndash singular and plural.
A singular verb is used with singular subject and a plural verb is used with plural subject.
The Subject
A subject is one of the two parts into which every sentence may be divided. The other part is the predicate.
The Subject of a sentence is what or whom we are talking about and the predicate of a sentence is what we are saying about the subject.
Consider these examples:
1. The Goa summit was held in October.
What are we talking about? The Goa summit.
What we are talking about: (It) was held in October.
Thus the sentence is divided in this way: "The Goa summit" [subject] "was held in October." [predicate].
2. Truman was elected Vice-President of the United States in 1944.
Whom we are talking about: Truman [subject].
What we are talking about him: (he) was elected Vice-President of the United States in 1944 [predicate].
The subject of a sentence may consist of single noun or pronoun, as in:
• Rumi was operated for tumour.
• Richa is beautiful.
• Houses could once be built in eight weeks.
• Flower blooms in spring.
This single noun or pronoun is called the subject of the verb. Subject of the verb is the single word (noun or pronoun) which is directly, and exclusively, influences the number of the verb.
The subject of the sentence (don’t confuse with the subject of the verb though they frequently identical) may contain not only the subject of the verb, but also one or more adjectives, conjunctions, adverbs, prepositional phrases, or other assorted parts of speech.
To spot the difference between subject of the verb and subject of the sentence, see the build up a sentence in below examples.
Women are fascinating creatures.
Subject of the verb and subject of the sentence: women.
Let us add a prepositional phrase:
Women of beauty are fascinating creatures.
Subject of the sentence : Women of beauty.
Subject of the verb : Women.
Now, adding an adverb, a conjunction, and a second prepositional phrase:
Healthy young women of great beauty and delightfully curvaceous lines are fascinating creatures.
Subject of the Sentence: Healthy young women of great beauty and delightfully curvaceous lines.
Subject of the verb : women.
Key Point : Subject of the verb is single noun or pronoun; whereas, subject of the sentence may be single word, noun or pronoun as well as combination of adjectives, conjunctions, adverbs, prepositional phrases or other part of speech.
Now, see these examples:
1. Are women fascinating creatures?
Verb: Are
Subject of the verb : women
The subject may be split a verb phrase:
2. How do women improve their health? [verb phrase]
Verb phrase: Do improve
Subject of the verb : Women
3. There are many reasons for admiring the girl child.
Verb: Are
Subject of the verb : reasons
4. Beyond the Alps lies Italy.
Verb: lies
Subject of the verb: Italy.
In above example, you can see the verb precedes its subject.
* So, The subject of the verb need not precede the verb.
To find subject of the sentence is a bit easy; however, finding the subject of the verb &ndash that is, the single noun or pronoun which drives the number of the verb- is a bit difficult. So, note these important points:
* The subject of a sentence may, and often does, contain one or more prepositional phrases.
* The single noun or pronoun subject of the verb is never found in within or as part of the prepositional phrase.
Go through the each of the sentences given below:
1. In China’s Civil War, Nanking claimed further gains.
The verb is claimed and its subject is Nanking.
2. Business and industrial leaders in Kolkata predicted a rush of applications for price adjustments.
Here we have a rather long subject of the sentence (all the words up to the verb predicted) but usual one word subject of the verb is Leaders.
3. The cost of automobiles has just risen 27 per cent.
The subject of the verb is Cost. Note cost is singular and that the verb has risen is also singular.
4. There go my brothers.
Subject of the verb is Brothers. This is an instance in which the subject of the verb follows the verb (go) i.e. verb preceded the subject of the verb. There is an adverb.
5. One of my best friends was killed yesterday.
One of my best friends is prepositional phrase. One is pronoun and so subject of the verb. Note the both subject and verb are singular.
6. The captain, with all his sisters, brothers, aunts, and cousins by dozens, is going abroad.
The subject of the sentence is made up of all words up to is, the subject of the verb is single word captain. Since, captain is singular, is going is singular.
7. Ram, like his mother and father, has brown hair.
Like is a preposition, and so nouns mother and father have no influence on the number of the verb. Ram is singular so the verb has is also singular.
8. Has either of your parents married since divorce?
Of your parents is a prepositional phrase. Either in this sentence means either one ; therefore it is singular and takes singular verb has married.
9. Was each of the criminals tried separately?
Like either, each means each one. It is a singular pronoun and takes singular verb was tried.
10. Divya’s beauty, as well as her versatility and charm, has made her a very popular girl in the college.
As well as her versatility and charm is a prepositional phrase introduced by the triple-ply preposition as well as. So, subject of the verb is Divya.
Important Principles
• The subject of the verb is usually a single-word noun or pronoun.
• Such noun or pronoun is not found with a prepositional phrase.
• Generally, the subject precedes the verb but in certain sentence patterns may follow the verb.
• The number of the verb depends on the number of the single-word subject
• Singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verb.
Back to the starting Problem
"The cost of new books is dropping," or "The cost of new books are dropping"?
Subject of the sentence: The cost of new books
• Subject of the verb : cost
Cost is singular so it must take singular verb.
• Hence correct sentence: The cost of new books is dropping.
The Conclusion
A verb must agree in number with single-word subject &ndash noun or pronoun.
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