Perhatikan kalimat berikut:

‘The man together with his ten children is leaving soon.’

Ada yang salah enggak nih? Verb (is) nya yang salah? Eitss.. kalimat di atas 100% bener. Memang sedikit ganjal dengan verbnya. Kenapa the man together with his ten children berbentuk singular, jelas-jelas itu plural? Pasti temen-temen bertanya-tanya, bukan?

Pada kalimat di atas, ada yang namanya intervening phrase. Intervening phrase seperti together with, in addition to, along with, as well as, except blabla, of the blabla, dan lain-lain. Intervening phrase jika berada di setelah subject utama (seperti kalimat ‘The man together with his ten children is leaving soon.’) tidak mempengaruhi verbnya.

Contoh:

Everyone except him has a book.

The teacher along with her students is viewing a film.

One of the most enjoyable parties was given by Helen.

Nylon, like orlon, is synthetic.