Phonics *Are Interesting
The highlighted verb is wrong (The Times, 30 November 2009). Since phonics is the name of a subject, it should take a singular verb, is. It is puzzling that the teacher � if she was indeed quoted correctly � chose a plural verb for phonics but a singular one for maths. (And while we�re being pedantic, there should be a semicolon and not a comma after excellent.)
Words like mathematics, economics, acoustics and politics take singular verbs when they refer to the name of a subject or topic of study, but they take plural verbs when they refer to aspects, attributes, qualities and so on. Hence:
Politics is my strongest subject at university.
but
The politics at work are unbearable.
Categories:
English as it is broken,
Grammar
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