Posted: 10/28/2008 8:07:17 PM EDT
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Which is the correct way to write this sentence. Thanks in advance.
1) Mr. Jones, along with his classmates, were shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon. 2) Mr. Jones, along with his classmates, was shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon. |
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Mr. Jones, along with his classmates, was shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon.
OR: Mr. Jones and his classmates were shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon In the second line, he's part of a group (plural) which is the subject; in the first, the subject is Mr. Jones (singular). |
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Quoted:
Mr. Jones, along with his classmates, was shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon. OR: Mr. Jones and his classmates were shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon In the second line, he's part of a group (plural) which is the subject; in the first, the subject is Mr. Jones (singular). A couple of us were arguing about the first line. Some were saying were, but it just doesn't sound right. The second sentence you wrote makes more sense and less chance of messing it up. |
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I'm grammar challenged, so go with what I would actually say. I would use 'were' in this case. 'Was' just doesn't sound right to me.
*** The above post made by somebody MANY years out of school. ETA: Quoted:
Here's another sentence along the same lines: John, along with Bob, was at the store. John, along with Bob, were at the store. I'd definitely say that "was" is correct. Was sounds right in this one, and I would have used it here. Hmmm...I probably would have just said 'John and Bob were at the store' though. *shrug* |
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Quoted:
It can be argued that "along with his classmates" is part of the subject, compounded together with "Mr. Jones" just like "and" would serve to do, in which case, "were" would be correct. Not successfully. And certainly not by anyone using proper grammar. |
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Quoted:
Mr. Jones, along with his classmates, was shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon. OR: Mr. Jones and his classmates were shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon In the second line, he's part of a group (plural) which is the subject; in the first, the subject is Mr. Jones (singular). This, along with FFA's answer, is correct 
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I'd like to note that the sentence is in the passive voice.
We know that Mr. Jones and his classmates received instruction in clearing a weapon. We do not know who did it. Thus, the sentence leaves out some potentially important information. More importantly, the structure of the sentence contains no indication of any *action* taken by anyone. Look for this structure in speeches, especially from the left. Ask yourself, "Who is *doing* the educating/protecting/helping/funding?" Putting politics aside, here is a better structure: "Mr. Jones and his classmates learned how to clear a loaded weapon." Now Mr. Jones has actually *done* something ("learned"), instead of simply sitting around and waiting to receive it. Here is another structure: "Mr. Smith showed Mr. Jones and his classmates how to clear a loaded weapon." This contains all the information of the original sentence, plus information on "who did the doing". |
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Quoted:
It can be more correct because "along with his classmates" is an adverbial phrase, not an interjection.Quoted:
2) "was" Pretend that the interjection ("along with his classmates) isn't there and see what makes sense. This post (which was the very first reply) cannot be more correct. Why do people insist on continuing to guess?
"Interjections show excitement or emotion. They're usually set apart from a sentence by an exclamation point, or by a comma when the feeling's not as strong" –– School House Rock |
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Quoted:
Mr. Jones, along with his classmates, was shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon. OR: Mr. Jones and his classmates were shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon In the second line, he's part of a group (plural) which is the subject; in the first, the subject is Mr. Jones (singular). This |
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Quoted:
2) "was" Pretend that the interjection ("along with his classmates) isn't there and see what makes sense. This is my understanding. ETA: This too- Quoted:
Mr. Jones, along with his classmates, was shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon. OR: Mr. Jones and his classmates were shown the proper way to clear a loaded weapon In the second line, he's part of a group (plural) which is the subject; in the first, the subject is Mr. Jones (singular). |