will becoming (be coming)

When a subject (book, list, team) is separated from its verb by a prepositional phrase, relative clause, appositive, or parenthetical, writers often let the verb agree with the nearer noun instead of the true subject. Below: a short rule, fast tests, many wrong/right pairs for work, school, and casual writing, plus copyable rewrite templates.

Quick answer

Make the verb agree with the head noun (the main subject), not with nouns inside intervening phrases. Singular subject → singular verb; plural subject → plural verb - even when a nearer noun is plural.

• Singular subject + modifier → singular verb: The book on the table is mine.
• Plural subject + modifier → plural verb: The books on the table are mine.
• Quick check: remove the modifier and read subject + verb alone - if that sounds right, the full sentence usually is correct.

Core explanation (short)

The verb must agree with the head noun - the noun the sentence is really about. Modifiers (prepositional phrases, relative clauses, appositives, parentheticals) do not change the subject's number.

Fast test: delete the modifier. If "The book is" sounds right, use "is"; if "The books are" sounds right, use "are".

• Head noun = the true subject that controls agreement (book, list, team).
• Ignore modifiers like "of the students", "on the shelf", "who arrived", "with photos" for agreement.
• If in doubt, reword so the verb sits next to the subject.

• Short-test: Original: The list of names are on the site. Reduction: The list is on the site.
  Correct: The list of names is on the site.

Grammar notes, hyphenation, and spacing that affect parsing

Collective nouns (team, committee, staff) can be singular or plural depending on meaning; pick the verb to match the sense or rephrase. Inverted constructions (There is/There are) must match the real subject that follows the verb.

Punctuation, hyphens, and spacing change grouping. Missing commas or wrong hyphenation can make a modifier look like part of the subject and cause misagreement.

• Collective: The committee has decided (unit) vs The committee are arguing (members acting separately - often British).
• Inverted: There are three options available (subject = three options → plural).
• Hyphenation/spacing: "a close-knit team" keeps the subject singular; commas set off nonessential phrases: The manager, along with two aides, was present.

• Example fixes: Poor punctuation: The manager along with his team were late. → Better: The manager, along with his team, was late.
• Hyphen: A well-known author is visiting. (singular)

Examples: paired wrong/right sentences (work, school, casual)

Each incorrect sentence shows a proximity error; the correct sentence matches the verb to the head subject. Swap your nouns into these templates to fix your own lines.

• Work - wrong:
  Incorrect: The list of attendees are on the spreadsheet. Work -
  right: The list of attendees is on the spreadsheet.
• Work - wrong:
  Incorrect: The report with the appendices have been uploaded. Work -
  right: The report with the appendices has been uploaded.
• Work - wrong:
  Incorrect: The box of manuals were delivered this morning. Work -
  right: The box of manuals was delivered this morning.
• School - wrong:
  Incorrect: A list of sources are included at the end. School -
  right: A list of sources is included at the end.
• School - wrong:
  Incorrect: The data on the graphs doesn't support the hypothesis. School -
  right: The data in the graphs don't support the hypothesis. (Or: The data shown in the graphs do not support the hypothesis.)
• School - wrong:
  Incorrect: The group of researchers were reviewing the results. School -
  right: The group of researchers was reviewing the results. (Or: The researchers were reviewing the results.)
• Casual - wrong:
  Incorrect: The pair of headphones are missing. Casual -
  right: The pair of headphones is missing.
• Casual - wrong:
  Incorrect: The cake on the counter don't look frosted. Casual -
  right: The cake on the counter doesn't look frosted.
• Casual - wrong:
  Incorrect: The book on my nightstand have been read. Casual -
  right: The book on my nightstand has been read.

Rewrite help: step-by-step fixes and templates

Steps: 1) identify the head subject, 2) drop intervening phrases, 3) choose the verb that matches the head, 4) reword if the result is awkward. Use these templates and examples.

• Template A (keep subject): [Subject] [modifier] [verb] - make the verb match Subject.
• Template B (move verb next to subject): [Subject] [verb] [modifier] - reduces proximity errors.
• Template C (recast): pluralize the subject, use "members of", or split into two sentences.

• Rewrite-1: Original: The number of errors are surprising. → Fix: The number of errors is surprising. →
  Alternative: Errors are surprisingly numerous.
• Rewrite-2: Original: There is a bunch of files in the folder. → Fix: There are a bunch of files in the folder. →
  Formal: A bunch of files is in the folder.
• Rewrite-3: Original: The professor, along with the students, were confused. → Fix: The professor, along with the students, was confused. →
  Alternative: The professor and the students were confused.
• Rewrite-4: Original: The pair of running shoes were on sale. → Fix: The pair of running shoes was on sale. →
  Alternative: The running shoes were on sale.
• Rewrite-5: Original: A number of factors is at play. → Fix: A number of factors are at play. → Clearer: Several factors are at play.
• Rewrite-6: Original: The committee have sent their report. → Fix (US formal): The committee has sent its report. → If you mean members: The committee members have sent their report.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence rather than a fragment - context often makes the correct form clear.

Real usage and tone: when meaning overrides form

In formal American English, prefer strict agreement. In informal speech and some dialects, collective nouns often take plural verbs when emphasis is on individual members.

• Formal: The team is meeting on Tuesday. (team as a unit)
• Plural emphasis (dialectal or intentional): The team are wearing their new jerseys. (members acting individually)
• When ambiguous, recast: The members of the team are wearing new jerseys.

Memory tricks and quick diagnostics

Two fast checks: 1) reduce to subject + verb, 2) substitute a clear pronoun (it/they) and see which verb fits. Reading aloud also helps.

• Reduction: The boxes on the shelf (is/are) → The boxes are → use "are".
• Substitution: Replace "The list" with "it": It is → correct: The list is.
• Visual trick: underline the subject and circle modifiers - the verb must match the underline.

• Diagnostic: Original: The files in the folder is missing. Reduction: The files is missing → Substitute: They are missing →
  Correct: The files in the folder are missing.

Similar mistakes to watch for

While fixing agreement, also scan for pronoun-antecedent mismatches, subject/object swaps, and tense inconsistencies - these often appear alongside proximity errors.

• Pronoun agreement: Match a pronoun to its actual antecedent, not to a nearer noun inside a modifier.
• Subject vs object: Ensure the noun doing the action is the subject, not the object of a preposition.
• Tense/number mismatch: Watch verbs across clauses so number and tense stay consistent.

• Pronoun-wrong: Incorrect: Each of the students turned in their paper. →
  Correct: Each of the students turned in his or her paper. (Or: The students turned in their papers.)
• Subject-object-wrong: Incorrect: The results that we collected shows... →
  Correct: The results that we collected show...

Want a quick check? (soft CTA)

If you're unsure: run the reduction test, try the it/they substitution, then reword if the sentence still sounds awkward. Use a grammar checker as a second opinion.

• Checklist: underline the subject → cross out modifiers → pick the verb → read aloud.
• When editing, scan for modifiers (of, with, on, along with, who/that) that separate subjects and verbs.

FAQ

Should the verb agree with the nearest noun after a prepositional phrase?

No. The verb agrees with the main subject (the head noun). Ignore nearer nouns inside modifiers and use the reduction test (subject + verb) to check.

How do I handle "There is" with plural subjects?

Match "there" to the real subject that follows: use "there are" if the subject is plural (There are three options). For formal tone, rephrase: Three options exist.

What about collective nouns like "team" or "committee"?

Use singular verbs when the group acts as one (The committee has decided). Use plural verbs to emphasize individuals (The committee are arguing) - but in formal US writing prefer the singular or rephrase to "members".

Can punctuation cause agreement mistakes?

Yes. Missing commas or bad hyphenation can make modifiers look like part of the subject. Set off nonessential phrases with commas and keep compounds clear (a close-knit team is...).

Will grammar tools catch these errors every time?

Many tools catch common patterns, but complex sentences or deliberate stylistic choices can confuse them. Use tools as a second check and apply the reduction/substitution tests for tricky cases.

Practice one trick to stop making this mistake

Run the reduction test on five sentences from your last draft. If two need rewriting, change the structure to put the verb next to the subject.

Pasting a tricky sentence into a grammar tool that explains the error helps the correct form stick. Repeat the test until it becomes automatic.