Question

Difficulty: EasySubject-Verb Agreement

The sentence below describes a historical discovery. Which form of the present-tense verb 'to illustrate' correctly completes the sentence to maintain proper subject-verb agreement?

Answer:The collection of vintage maps in the archives 【illustrates】 the evolution of cartography over the centuries.

Answer

illustrates
The correct verb form is 'illustrates' because the subject of the sentence is the singular noun 'collection'. Modifying prepositional phrases like 'of vintage maps' and 'in the archives' do not change the number of the subject. A singular subject requires the singular verb form 'illustrates'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical subject of the sentence.
The subject of the sentence is the singular noun 'collection'.
The plural nouns 'maps' and 'archives' are the objects of the prepositional phrases 'of vintage maps' and 'in the archives' respectively, meaning they do not affect the number of the verb.
2
Determine the correct present-tense form of the verb 'to illustrate' that agrees with the singular subject.
The correct verb form is 'illustrates'.
A singular subject ('collection') requires a singular verb form ('illustrates') in the present tense.

Key Concept

Subject-verb agreement with intervening prepositional phrases
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