Concord

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Concord

sbreum_bundgard51sbreum_bundgard51 ✭
in Grammar, punctuation, and usage

"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.

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Comments

  • DavidCrosbieDavidCrosbie ✭✭✭

    @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.

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  • sbreum_bundgard51sbreum_bundgard51 ✭

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

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