A noun in a prepositional phrase

[vishalc581]

Hi,

I was going through subject verb agreement/sentence structure from Manhattan's SC guide and I had doubt in below:

"However, new lands is in a prepositional phrase modifying the noun conquest. A noun in a prepositional
phrase cannot be the subject of the sentence"

In the waning days of the emperor's life, the conquest of new lands on the
borders of the empire was/were considered vital


the conquest of new lands --> prepositional phrase

here noun is conquest and IT IS the subject of the sentence then the above point is wrong "A noun in a prepositional
phrase cannot be the subject of the sentence"

I got the point that was should be used for the singular subject conquest. but didn't get this "A noun in a prepositional
phrase cannot be the subject of the sentence".

Please help me to understand.

[Chelsey Cooley]

A noun in a prepositional phrase refers to the noun that comes after the preposition. So, in this example:

the painting of the Queen

'Painting' could be the subject of a sentence:

The painting of the Queen fell off of the wall.

But 'Queen' couldn't be the subject:

The painting of the Queen is the ruler of the British monarchy.

[vishalc581]

so you mean:

the CONQUEST should be the subject and THE NEW LANDS can not be the subjects, although both are nouns and the rule says "the noun in prepositional phrase can't be the subject of the sentence" but the noun this rule is referring to is noun after the prepositional phrase like noun "the new lands."

am I correct sir?

[tim]

That is correct. It is a vital skill to be able to identify which nouns are inside prepositional phrases, so be sure to get plenty of practice with that if it's not always obvious to you what is inside a prepositional phrase and what is outside.

[vishalc581]

Can you please tell me what is the subject in the below sentence:


A broad range of surveys studying the effectiveness of abstinence-only education has identified at least three misconceptions thought to lead to a greater likelihood of unplanned pregnancy, the primary concern of such education.


I think subject should be "surveys" but then NOUN AFTER the preposition in a prepositional phrase can't be THE SUBJECT of the sentence.

A broad range of surveys------> Noun before preposition is Range with Broad as adjective modifier and NOUN-2 after the preposition OF is SURVEYS.

Please help!

[JeffreyB581]

I think the subject is range. The noun within the prepositional phrase "of surveys" cannot be the subject for the exact reason you stated above.

[tim]

Thanks, Jeffrey!