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Question

Difficulty: MediumSubject-Verb Agreement

The restoration of mid-century modern furniture, which often involves sourcing rare veneer and period-correct hardware, requires a high level of patience. A specialized set of chisels and scrapers are essential for removing old finish without damaging the underlying wood.

Which of the following options is the correct way to write the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. isAnswer
  3. C
    was
  4. D
    were

Answer

The correct answer is 'is'. The singular subject 'set' requires the singular verb 'is', and the present tense must be maintained to match the surrounding context.
The correct option is 'is' because the subject of the verb is the singular noun 'set'. The prepositional phrase 'of chisels and scrapers' contains plural nouns but does not affect the number of the subject. Additionally, the present-tense form 'is' maintains consistency with the present-tense verb 'requires' in the first sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the clause containing the underlined verb.
The subject is the noun phrase 'A specialized set of chisels and scrapers', where the head noun is the singular noun 'set'.
To ensure subject-verb agreement, the verb must match the number of the head noun, not the nouns in the intervening prepositional phrase.
2
Determine the correct tense based on the context of the passage.
The first sentence uses the present-tense verb 'requires', indicating that the passage is written in the present tense. Thus, the verb must be in the present tense.
Consistent verb tense must be maintained throughout the passage to avoid illogical shifts.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the singular, present-tense verb.
The form 'is' is singular and present tense, which fits both requirements. 'NO CHANGE' (which is 'are') is plural, 'was' is past tense, and 'were' is plural and past tense.
Only 'is' resolves the agreement error without introducing a tense shift.

Key Concept

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

Subject-Verb Agreement

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