In the following example, the head noun is use and not properties:
The use of properties are important. Q The use of properties is important. R
4.2 Two successive names coordinated by and are treated like a plural noun, i.e. they agree with a plural verb. The sentence below is a bit hard to read mainly because it starts with what.
It is not wrong to use what for non-question sentences provided they are short and clear:
What Lave and Wenger points out to be important when building a CoP is that learning should be situated and contextual. Q
Lave and Wenger (year of publication of the book or journal is necessary in academic writing) point out that it is important to situate and contextualize learning when building a CoP. R
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WHERE YOU MAY GET IT WRONG
WHEN WRITING ENGLISH subjeCt and Verb agreement
4.3 Here is a sentence which is too long. At the same time it has an error in agreement. For better reading, I first advise that you divide the sentence into two parts and then correct the error related to subject and verb agreement:
As the delimitations for the change and the specifications of goals influences the possibilities for results and ergonomic improvements in different ways there is a need to discuss the underlying assumptions for the change effort with arrangement involved. Q Change delimitations and goal specifications influence the possibilities of improving ergonomic results. Thus, there is a need to discuss the underlying assumptions for change. R
4.4 Here is another example of lack of agreement. Remember the verb agrees with the head of the noun phrase; in this case picture. For better reading, try to bring the agent Eakin to the beginning of the sentence. The shift in the position of the agent solves the problem and makes reading easier:
A striking picture of the main components in these attitudes were described by Eakin (1992). Q A striking picture of the main components in these attitudes was described by Eakin (1992). R
Eakin (1992) gives a striking picture of the main components in these attitudes. R 4.5 Always remember that the verb agrees with the main noun or the head of the noun phrase, which is factors in the following sentence:
The factors in the equation offers no proof. Q The factors in the equation offer no proof. R
4.6 It is sometimes difficult to tell which is the head noun when the noun phrase is very long. In the following sentence, the noun phrase, written in bold, is 11 words with three nouns of which chapters is the head:
These chapters which are concluded in a number of research questions represents the framework for the thesis. Q
These chapters, concluded in a number of research questions, represent the framework of the thesis. R
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4.7 Identifying the head of a noun phrase is very important to address pitfalls in subject-verb agreement in English. One main clue is that the noun immediately preceding the preposition in a complex noun phrase is usually the head noun. parts in the noun phrase written in bold is the head noun and immediately precedes the preposition of:
In this chapter the brand concept and parts of its history is presented. Q In this chapter the brand concept and parts of its history are presented. R
4.8 The following sentence is hard to read, partly because of the way that and what are used. Also, note that the sentence has two errors in agreement between subject and verb:
The following quote suggest a very basic logic for understanding marketing communications towards industrial customers that does not proclaim limits for what tools are useful. Q The following quote suggests a basic logic for the understanding of marketing communication with industrial customers that sets no limit for the tools they see as useful. R
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WHERE YOU MAY GET IT WRONG
WHEN WRITING ENGLISH subjeCt and Verb agreement
4.9 A relative clause modifies the head noun it follows (see 12.7). The head noun agrees with the verb in the modifying relative clause. One way to solve the problem is to have a reduced relative clause, one in which the relative pronoun has been omitted, modifying the head noun:
Here in particular the analytical focus is on media texts, which is regarded as cultural and symbolic discourses. Q
The analysis particularly focuses on the media texts, which are regarded as cultural and symbolic discourses. R
The analysis particularly focuses on the media texts regarded as cultural and symbolic discourses. (With a reduced relative clause). R