TinyProf's Grammar Guide 🎓

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1. What We're Solving

We need to figure out two things:

• Should the verb be "is" or "are" in the sentence?
• Should "especially the fingers" be surrounded by commas?

These questions are connected, making this an interesting puzzle.

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2. The Approach

The key skill here is identifying the true grammatical subject of the sentence. In English, the verb must agree with the subject — but sometimes extra information gets tucked between the subject and the verb, which can mislead us into choosing the wrong verb form.

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3. Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Find the Core Subject

Look at the sentence: > "...the body, and especially the fingers, are also seen to be exotic"

Ask yourself: What is the main thing being discussed? Strip away everything between the commas:

> "...the body... are also seen to be exotic"

The primary subject is "the body" — singular! ✅

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Step 2: Understand What "Especially the Fingers" Actually Does

The phrase "especially the fingers" is what grammarians call a parenthetical modifier — it adds bonus detail but doesn't change the subject.

Think of it like a whispered aside: > "The body — yes, particularly the fingers — is exotic."

It's not creating a new, equal subject. It's saying within the body, the fingers are a highlight. The fingers are part of the body being discussed.

Compare this to a true compound subject:

• ❌ "The body and the fingers are exotic" — here both are equal partners → plural verb ✓
• ✅ "The body, and especially the fingers, is exotic" — "especially" signals subordination → singular verb ✓

The word "especially" is your clue! It means "most notably among these" — it doesn't add a new subject, it spotlights part of the existing one.

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Step 3: The Comma Question

Should "especially the fingers" be set off by commas? Yes, absolutely!

Here's why:

• The phrase is non-essential (parenthetical) — the sentence works without it
• Commas signal to the reader: "this is extra information, not the main clause"
• Without commas, readers might think "body and fingers" form a compound subject, causing confusion

> ✅ "the body, and especially the fingers, is also seen to be exotic"

The commas actually reinforce the singular verb choice by visually separating the parenthetical phrase.

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Step 4: Check Your Ear vs. Your Brain

You might feel like "are" sounds more natural — and that's completely understandable. When we hear "fingers," our brain wants a plural verb. This is called attraction error — the verb gets "attracted" to the nearest noun rather than the true subject.

> "The body... is" ← what the grammar requires > "...the fingers... are" ← what our ear wants (but this is incorrect here)

Trust your analysis over your instinct in cases like this! 🧠

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4. The Answer

| Feature | Correct Choice | Why | |---|---|---| | Verb form | is (singular) | "The body" is the true subject | | Commas around "especially the fingers" | Yes | It's a parenthetical modifier |

Corrected sentence: > "I would argue that the body, and especially the fingers, is also seen to be exotic."

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5. Memory Tip 💡

The "ESPECIALLY test": Whenever you see especially, particularly, notably, or above all tucked between commas, ask: "Is this phrase adding a NEW subject or HIGHLIGHTING part of the existing one?"

If it's highlighting → keep the original verb agreement

Think of it this way: "especially" zooms in 🔍 — it doesn't multiply!

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You're asking exactly the right kind of questions about grammar. This is a nuance that even experienced writers get wrong. 🌟