Subject-verb agreement?
1a. Did you know a famous animal-rights activist has criticized horseracing because of the dangers involved?
1b. Did you know a famous animal-rights activist have criticized horseracing because of the dangers involved?
I KNOW THE ANSWER IS A, BUT WHY IS IT A?
Favorite Answer
A plural subject goes with a plural verb.
This is how you conjugate has:
Singular:
I have (criticized)
You have (criticized)
He/she/it has (criticized)
Plural:
We have (criticized)
You have (criticized)
They have (criticized)
The subject of the sentence (a famous activist) is SINGULAR…so you look in the “singular” list.
Singular:
I have (criticized)
You have (criticized)
He/she/it has (criticized)
Now, ask yourself what pronoun would you use to replace “a famous animal-rights activist” ?
“I” is not the speaker.
“You” is not the speaker.
Because the subject pronoun can only be third person,”SHE” is the speaker. The correct verb is therefore the one that goes with SHE.
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