Is 'Rahul Along with His Friends is/are Going to a Party' Correct?
The question often arises about the correct form to use when referring to a person and the people they are with when attending an event. A common example is 'Rahul along with his friends is/are going to a party.' This article will help to clarify the correct usage and provide insight into the grammatical nuances that play a role in this sentence.
Context and Perspectives
Consider the sentence 'Rahul along with his friends is/are going to a party.' This statement can be interpreted from different perspectives. From Rahul's perspective, the focus is on the individual, Rahul, who is attending the party with his friends. On the other hand, the statement can also highlight the group as a whole, including Rahul and his friends.
Correct Usage: Singular Verb
The correct phrasing when focusing on Rahul as the subject of the sentence is: 'Rahul along with his friends is going to a party.' This usage is correct because the sentence revolves around Rahul's singular action—the act of attending the party. In this case, 'along with his friends' acts as an adverbial phrase providing context to the statement rather than changing the subject-verb agreement.
Correct Usage: Plural Verb
When the focus is on the entire group of people, including Rahul, then the correct phrasing is: 'Rahul along with his friends are going to a party.' Here, the sentence is viewed as a plural subject-verb agreement where the group, which consists of Rahul and his friends, are the subject and thus take a plural verb form.
Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement
Let's break down the sentence to understand the subject and the verb. In the sentence 'Rahul along with his friends is going to a party,' the subject is 'Rahul,' and the verb is 'going.' Since 'Rahul' is a singular noun, the verb should also be singular, so 'is' is the correct form to use.
On the other hand, in the sentence 'Rahul along with his friends are going to a party,' the subject includes both 'Rahul' and 'his friends,' making it a plural noun. Therefore, the verb 'are' is the appropriate choice.
Frequent Misunderstandings
A common misunderstanding is to treat 'along with his friends' as the subject of the sentence. However, 'along with' is a prepositional phrase that provides additional information but does not change the subject. When the sentence is rephrased to focus on the group of people, it becomes clearer which verb form to use.
Conclusion
Based on the grammatical rules of subject-verb agreement, the correct phrasing for the sentence is as follows:
Rahul along with his friends is going to a party. (Subject: Rahul; Verb: is) Rahul along with his friends are going to a party. (Subject: Rahul and his friends; Verb: are)Understanding these nuances is crucial for clear and effective communication. Whether you choose the singular or plural verb, the clarity of your message will be enhanced by recognizing the grammatical structure of the sentence.
Remember, the key to determining the correct verb form is the subject of the sentence, not the prepositional phrase. By focusing on the individual or the group and the corresponding subject, you can choose the right form of the verb to maintain proper sentence structure.