6

Sentence that needs correction:

Sensationalism in television shows masquerading as "news" programs are making it difficult for serious journalism to compete for ratings.

The correction should be sensationalism...is. I don't see how the use of are is incorrect. What's wrong with the sentence above?

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
5

The subject is Sensationalism. Everything between sensationalism and is is modifier on Sensationalism:

What kind of sensationalism? ... Sensationalism in television shows.
What kind of television shows? ... Television shows masquerading as "news" programs.

It is the sensationalism in those shows which makes things difficult for serious journalists.

Improve this answer
1
  • Sensationalism in television shows masquerading as "news" programs is making it difficult for serious journalism to compete for ratings. In this sentence, the verb should be "is" because the subject is singular. Please correct me if I mentioned wrong
    – Avid Programmer
    Commented Nov 13, 2019 at 10:32
7

The subject of the sentence is the first word: "Sensationalism". This is a singular noun, so the verb "is" fits.

The reason "are" sounds right is because the object of the prepositional phrase "in television shows" as well as the predicate of the modifying clause "masquerading as 'news' programs" are both plural. However, the real subject is "sensationalism", with which the verb must agree.

Improve this answer
6
  • could programs be the verb that agrees with are?
    – user8959
    Commented Aug 6, 2014 at 18:25
  • 1
    No. There can only be one verb in a clause. Clauses don't have to "agree" grammatically, but it is good practice to match the tense and voice of verbs in compound sentences. This is not a compound sentence. There is one independent clause "Sensationalism is" with one dependent clause in the subject and another in the predicate. It is very confusing.
    – Austin Mullins
    Commented Aug 6, 2014 at 18:32
  • what's the dependent clause?
    – user8959
    Commented Aug 6, 2014 at 18:35
  • 1
    In the subject: Shows masquerading as news programs. In the predicate: making it difficult to compete for ratings. I don't know, the gerund form of the verbs might classify them as phrases.
    – Austin Mullins
    Commented Aug 6, 2014 at 18:42
  • 1
    @Ben -- your mistake is "natural", and shows that your grasp of subject/verb agreement is becoming fluent. Most native speakers have to be taught this lesson in elementary school, because they might not learn it on their own.
    – Jasper
    Commented Aug 7, 2014 at 2:18

You must log in to answer this question.