Concord

sbreum_bundgard51

"On the dark glass, in white capital letters, stand the words "MIRACLE POLISH"
All of a sudden I am in doubt whether it is "stand" or "stands". What is the subject to "stand". Hope a few grammar wizards can enlighten me.

DavidCrosbie

@sbreum_bundgard51, the construction is known as INVERSION — meaning that the SUBJECT and the VERB change places.

So the SUBJECT is the words
and the VERB — with plural concord — is stand

The inversion is cause by moving the ADVERBIALS to the front of the sentence. The writer did this

• to make the visual details of place and lettering the TOPIC of the sentence
• the place the words MIRACLE POLISH at the end, to emphasise the importance

Without this TOPICALISATION and INVERSION, the sentence would be

The words 'MIRACLE POLISH' stand on the dark glass, in white capital letters.

sbreum_bundgard51

Thank you so much for your thorough explanation! I really appreciate your help!