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Difficulty: MediumSubject-Verb Agreement

Read the passage below and fill in the blank with the correct present-tense form of the verb 'reveal' that agrees with its subject.

Answer:The exploration of deep caves, often referred to as speleology, presents unique challenges to scientists. A team of researchers studying the subterranean microclimates in these caves must carry specialized instrumentation. Each of the rock samples collected from the deepest caverns 【reveals】 a distinct chemical composition that helps scientists date the cave's formation.

Answer

reveals
The correct verb form is 'reveals' because the subject of the clause is 'Each', a singular indefinite pronoun. The prepositional phrase 'of the rock samples collected from the deepest caverns' contains plural nouns, but it does not change the singular nature of the subject. A singular subject requires a singular present-tense verb.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the sentence containing the blank.
The subject is the indefinite pronoun 'Each'.
The phrase 'of the rock samples collected from the deepest caverns' is a prepositional phrase modifying the pronoun 'Each' and does not affect the number of the verb.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the subject 'Each'.
The pronoun 'Each' is singular.
Indefinite pronouns such as 'each', 'either', and 'neither' are grammatically singular and require singular verbs.
3
Select the correct present-tense verb form of 'reveal' that agrees with the singular subject.
The singular present-tense form is 'reveals'.
Singular verbs in the present tense end with 's', whereas plural verbs do not.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Phrases
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Subject-Verb Agreement

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