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Question

Difficulty: MediumSubject-Verb Agreement

The monumental Arch of Constantine, which stands near the Colosseum and features reliefs repurposed from earlier imperial monuments, celebrate the victory of Constantine I over Maxentius. Many modern historians analyze these architectural choices as deliberate political propaganda.

Which choice best completes the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. celebratesAnswer
  3. C
    celebrated
  4. D
    are celebrating

Answer

celebrates
The singular subject is 'Arch', which requires a singular verb. The correct verb form is the singular present-tense 'celebrates'. This matches the tense of the surrounding verbs ('stands', 'features', and 'analyze') and correctly maintains subject-verb agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the main subject of the clause containing the underlined verb.
The subject is the singular noun 'Arch'.
Intervening descriptions, such as the relative clause 'which stands near the Colosseum and features reliefs repurposed from earlier imperial monuments,' must be set aside to determine the true subject.
2
Check the tense of the surrounding context.
The other verbs in the passage, including 'stands', 'features', and 'analyze', are in the present tense.
Maintaining consistent verb tense is necessary unless there is a clear logical reason to shift tenses.
3
Select the verb form that matches the singular subject in the present tense.
The correct verb form is the singular present-tense 'celebrates'.
This maintains both subject-verb agreement and temporal consistency across the sentences.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Clauses
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Subject-Verb Agreement

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