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Question

Difficulty: Very hardSubject-Verb Agreement

Complete the sentence by typing the correct present-tense form of the verb in parentheses to ensure proper subject-verb agreement.

Answer:Beneath the frozen surface of Europa, one of Jupiter's most intriguing moons, (to lie) 【lies】 a vast ocean of liquid water that scientists believe could harbor extraterrestrial life.

Answer

lies
The correct form is 'lies'. The sentence features an inverted structure where the verb precedes the subject. The actual subject is the singular noun phrase 'a vast ocean.' To agree with this singular subject in the present tense, the verb must be the singular form 'lies.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the verb that needs to be conjugated and find its subject.
The verb is 'to lie', and the subject is 'a vast ocean'.
The sentence is inverted; it begins with the introductory prepositional phrase 'Beneath the frozen surface of Europa' followed by an appositive 'one of Jupiter's most intriguing moons'. In inverted sentences, the subject follows the verb.
2
Determine the grammatical number (singular or plural) of the subject.
The subject 'a vast ocean' is singular.
The noun 'ocean' is singular, modified by the singular article 'a'.
3
Select the form of the verb 'to lie' that agrees with a singular subject in the present tense.
The correct form is 'lies'.
A singular subject in the third person requires a singular verb ending in '-s' in the present tense.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Inverted Sentence Structure
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Topics

Subject-Verb Agreement

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