Examkin

Conventions of Usage

416 questions

All types416Multiple choice274True / False10Ordering7Fill in the blank125
Question 21Question →

Each student in the seminar, along with the professor, submitted their final research paper to the department head.

Which of the following choices best replaces the underlined portion of the sentence to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: his or her

Answer

The correct answer is the singular possessive pronoun phrase 'his or her' because it agrees in number with the singular antecedent 'Each student'.
The correct option is 'his or her' because the antecedent of the pronoun is 'Each student,' which is singular. Although the phrase 'along with the professor' introduces another person, it is an intervening prepositional phrase and does not change the singular subject to plural. Therefore, a singular possessive pronoun is required. Since the gender of the student is unspecified, 'his or her' is grammatically correct and appropriate.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the pronoun in the sentence.
The subject and antecedent is 'Each student'. The phrase 'along with the professor' is an intervening prepositional phrase and does not make the subject plural.
Finding the true antecedent is necessary to determine the correct pronoun agreement.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the antecedent.
The indefinite pronoun 'Each' is grammatically singular.
Grammatical number determines whether the pronoun must be singular or plural.
3
Select the pronoun that matches the antecedent in number and case.
The pronoun must show possession over 'final research paper', requiring a singular possessive form. The phrase 'his or her' is singular and possessive, which fits the context.
A singular possessive pronoun is required to agree with a singular antecedent and function correctly in the sentence.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 22Question →

After conducting a three-year study in the North Pacific, the delegation of environmental scientists presented their findings on microplastic accumulation to the United Nations committee.

Which choice best maintains standard written English conventions?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

The pronoun must be 'its' to agree with the singular collective noun 'delegation'.
The correct answer is the singular possessive pronoun 'its'. The antecedent is the singular collective noun 'delegation'. Although the intervening prepositional phrase 'of environmental scientists' contains the plural noun 'scientists', it does not alter the singular grammatical number of the subject. A singular possessive pronoun is required to modify 'findings'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent that the pronoun refers to.
The antecedent is the collective noun 'delegation'.
The pronoun must show possession of the findings presented by this specific group.
2
Determine if the antecedent is singular or plural, ignoring the intervening prepositional phrase.
The noun 'delegation' is singular, and the intervening phrase 'of environmental scientists' does not affect its grammatical number.
Collective nouns are typically singular in standard written English unless the members are acting individually, which is not the case here.
3
Select the correct singular possessive pronoun that matches the non-human antecedent.
The correct pronoun is 'its'.
The possessive pronoun 'its' is singular and agrees with 'delegation', unlike the plural 'their', the contraction 'it's', or the incorrect form 'its''.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Collective Nouns and Intervening Phrases
Estimated Time:45s
Question 23Question →

A compound antecedent joined by 'and' requires a plural possessive pronoun. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence below to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

The lead director and the executive producer discussed promotional strategy before the press conference.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

their
The correct answer is 'their'. The compound antecedent consists of 'the lead director' and 'the executive producer' connected by the conjunction 'and', making the antecedent plural. Therefore, the plural possessive pronoun 'their' is needed to agree in number and show possession.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the compound antecedent in the sentence.
The antecedent is 'The lead director and the executive producer'.
These are the two nouns joined by 'and' that the pronoun refers back to.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the compound antecedent.
The compound antecedent is plural.
Nouns connected by 'and' form a compound antecedent that is grammatically plural.
3
Select the correct plural possessive pronoun to modify the noun phrase.
The correct pronoun is 'their'.
The pronoun 'their' is plural and possessive, which correctly agrees in number with the compound antecedent.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Compound Antecedents
Question 24Question →

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

Fill in the blanks below

Beneath the frozen surface of Europa, one of Jupiter's most intriguing moons, (to lie) a vast ocean of liquid water that scientists believe could harbor extraterrestrial life.
Show answer & explanation

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
Question 25Question →

The following sentence is from an academic article about historic preservation:

"While the preservation team worked diligently to reinforce the crumbling foundation of the temple, the chief engineer warned the lead historian and he that the ancient structure had lost it's stability."

Which of the following options is the best replacement for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: him that the ancient structure had lost its

Answer

The correct answer is the option that replaces the underlined portion with 'him that the ancient structure had lost its'.
The correct answer replaces the subjective pronoun 'he' with the objective pronoun 'him' because it acts as the direct object of the verb 'warned' in a compound direct object construction. It also corrects the contraction 'it's' to the possessive pronoun 'its' to correctly show ownership of 'stability'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the correct pronoun case for the compound object.
The pronoun follows the transitive verb 'warned' and is part of a compound direct object ('warned the lead historian and [pronoun]'). Thus, the objective case pronoun 'him' must be used instead of the subjective 'he'.
Direct objects of verbs require objective pronoun cases to maintain correct sentence grammar.
2
Determine the correct spelling for the homophone indicating possession.
The word modifies 'stability' and indicates that the stability belongs to the ancient structure. The possessive determiner 'its' must be used.
The spelling 'its' is possessive, while the spelling 'it's' is a contraction representing 'it is' or 'it has'.
3
Identify the option that resolves both errors.
The option that reads 'him that the ancient structure had lost its' correctly applies both the objective pronoun case and the possessive spelling.
This is the only option that addresses both grammatical errors in the underlined portion.

Key Concept

Pronoun Case and Person
Question 26Question →

The lab director insisted that the responsibility for calibrating the particle accelerator belonged to the senior physicists and they, since they're research depended on absolute precision.

Which of the following choices is the most grammatically correct replacement for the underlined portion?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: them, since their

Answer

them, since their
The correct choice is the option that replaces the underlined text with 'them, since their'. The pronoun is part of a compound object of the preposition 'to' ('to the senior physicists and them'), which requires the objective case pronoun 'them'. Additionally, the possessive pronoun 'their' is required to modify the noun 'research', whereas the original text uses the contraction 'they're' ('they are').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the correct case for the pronoun in the compound object of the preposition.
The pronoun follows the preposition 'to' in the compound phrase 'to the senior physicists and [pronoun]'. Prepositions require objective case pronouns, so 'they' must be changed to 'them'.
Objects of prepositions must always be in the objective case.
2
Determine the correct word choice between the homophones 'they're' and 'their'.
The word modifies the noun 'research'. The contraction 'they're' means 'they are', which does not fit grammatically. The possessive pronoun 'their' is required.
A possessive pronoun is needed to indicate ownership of the research.
3
Combine the corrections.
The correct phrase is 'them, since their'.
This resolves both the pronoun case error and the homophone confusion error.

Key Concept

Pronoun Case in Compound Constructions and Homophone Distinctions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 27Question →

In the sentence below, a pronoun is missing. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Although the association of pediatricians initially hesitated to endorse the new treatment guidelines, eventually voted to publish the recommendations.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

it
The correct pronoun is 'it' because the antecedent is the singular collective noun 'association'. A singular neuter noun requires the singular neuter pronoun 'it' when acting as the subject of the clause.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent that the missing pronoun replaces.
The antecedent is the singular collective noun 'association' (modified by the prepositional phrase 'of pediatricians').
To ensure correct pronoun-antecedent agreement, the true noun that is being replaced must be identified.
2
Determine the number and gender of the antecedent.
The noun 'association' is singular and neuter.
Pronouns must match their antecedents in grammatical number (singular or plural) and gender.
3
Select the matching subjective pronoun to fill the blank.
The pronoun 'it' is singular and neuter, and serves as the subject of the clause.
The pronoun 'it' aligns with the singular collective noun 'association' and functions grammatically as the subject.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Collective Nouns
Question 28Question →

A pronoun is missing from the sentence below. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Neither the main thrusters nor the auxiliary engine has lost power source during the simulated launch.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct pronoun to fill the blank is 'its'.
The correct pronoun is 'its' because it agrees in number (singular) and gender (neuter) with the closer antecedent, 'auxiliary engine'. Under standard English conventions, when singular and plural antecedents are joined by 'neither... nor', the pronoun agrees with the closer antecedent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedents joined by the correlative conjunctions 'neither... nor'.
The two antecedents are 'the main thrusters' (plural) and 'the auxiliary engine' (singular).
This step determines the nouns that could potentially determine the pronoun's number.
2
Apply the proximity rule for pronoun-antecedent agreement with correlative conjunctions.
The pronoun must agree in number and gender with the closer antecedent, which is 'the auxiliary engine'.
When compound antecedents are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the pronoun agrees with the noun closest to it.
3
Determine the correct possessive pronoun for the singular, inanimate noun 'engine'.
The singular possessive pronoun is 'its'.
The pronoun must be singular to match 'engine' and possessive to modify 'power source'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions
Question 29Question →

The local committee of master gardeners decided to publish their annual report on urban composting.

Which of the following choices is the best replacement for the underlined word?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

its
The antecedent is the collective noun 'committee'. Because the committee acts as a single, unified group, it is treated as a singular noun. Therefore, it requires the singular possessive pronoun 'its' to agree with it.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the underlined pronoun.
The antecedent is the collective noun 'committee'.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement requires locating the specific noun to which the pronoun refers.
2
Determine the number of the antecedent in this context.
The collective noun 'committee' refers to a single group acting in unison, making it singular.
Establishing the singular or plural status of the antecedent dictates the correct form of the pronoun.
3
Select the grammatically correct singular possessive pronoun.
The pronoun 'its' is singular and shows possession of the annual report.
Only a singular possessive pronoun establishes proper agreement and meaning in this sentence.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Estimated Time:45s
Question 30Question →

The following passage is from a memoir about polar exploration.

In his memoir of the expedition, the polar explorer reveals that when a traveler crosses the Antarctic plateau, you must rely on the navigator's calculations, since any discrepancy between the navigator and he can show it's consequences immediately.

Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence and maintains proper grammatical structure?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: one must rely on the navigator's calculations, since any discrepancy between the navigator and him can show its

Answer

The correct option is the one that uses 'one must' to maintain third-person perspective, 'him' to serve as the objective case after the preposition 'between', and 'its' to correctly indicate possession.
The correct option maintains third-person consistency with 'a traveler' by using the pronoun 'one'. Additionally, it uses the objective pronoun 'him' as part of the compound object of the preposition 'between' and the possessive pronoun 'its' to show ownership of the consequences, avoiding both the case error and the contraction error.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the pronoun person in the sentence to ensure consistency with the referent 'a traveler'.
The sentence starts with 'a traveler', which is a third-person singular noun phrase. The pronoun referring back to it must remain in the third person ('one' or 'he/she'), making the second-person 'you' a pronoun person shift error.
To maintain pronoun-person consistency throughout the sentence.
2
Examine the pronoun case in the compound construction 'between the navigator and he'.
The preposition 'between' requires its objects to be in the objective case. Therefore, the subjective pronoun 'he' must be replaced with the objective pronoun 'him'.
Prepositional objects must be in the objective case.
3
Determine the correct word to modify 'consequences' by distinguishing between the homophones 'its' and 'it's'.
The sentence requires the possessive determiner 'its' to show ownership of the consequences, whereas 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has'.
To ensure proper homophone usage for showing possession.

Key Concept

Pronoun Case, Person Consistency, and Possessive Homophones in Compound Structures
Estimated Time:2m 0s
Question 31Question →

During the late Renaissance, a guild of master weavers in Florence guarded the secrets of silk production so fiercely that their monopoly on the trade remained unchallenged for over a century.

Which of the following choices best maintains pronoun-antecedent agreement in the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

The correct answer is the singular possessive pronoun 'its', which agrees with the singular collective noun 'guild'.
The correct option is the singular possessive pronoun 'its' because it correctly agrees in number with the singular collective noun antecedent 'guild'. The plural noun 'weavers' is part of an intervening prepositional phrase and does not act as the antecedent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the pronoun being tested and locate its antecedent in the sentence.
The pronoun is the possessive pronoun 'their', and its antecedent is the collective noun 'guild'.
To ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement, we must find the noun that the pronoun replaced.
2
Determine the grammatical number (singular or plural) of the antecedent.
The collective noun 'guild' is singular, even though it is followed by the intervening prepositional phrase 'of master weavers'.
Intervening prepositional phrases containing plural nouns do not change the singular nature of the collective noun antecedent.
3
Select the correct singular possessive pronoun that matches the antecedent and fits the context.
The singular possessive pronoun 'its' is the correct choice, whereas 'it's' is a contraction and 'its'' is incorrect punctuation.
The possessive pronoun 'its' correctly agrees with the singular noun 'guild' and shows possession of the monopoly.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Question 32Question →

The coalition of renewable energy developers, which lobbying groups had pressured to endorse the municipal sustainability plan, finalized their proposal before the legislative deadline.

Which of the following choices, if substituted for the underlined portion, makes the sentence grammatically correct?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

its
The correct answer is the singular possessive pronoun 'its'. The antecedent of the pronoun is 'coalition,' which is a singular collective noun. Although the plural phrase 'of renewable energy developers' and the relative clause intervene, the pronoun must agree with the singular noun 'coalition.' Therefore, the singular possessive pronoun 'its' is grammatically correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent that the underlined possessive pronoun refers to.
The antecedent is the collective noun 'coalition'.
To ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement, we must first locate the noun that the pronoun replaces or refers to.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the antecedent.
The noun 'coalition' is singular, despite being followed by the plural prepositional phrase 'of renewable energy developers'.
Agreement must be made with the head noun of the subject phrase ('coalition'), which is singular.
3
Select the possessive pronoun that matches the singular number of the antecedent.
The singular possessive pronoun is 'its'.
A singular antecedent requires a singular possessive pronoun to maintain grammatical agreement.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Question 33Question →

The restoration of the cathedral's historic fresco had proceeded smoothly for months. Neither the volunteers nor the lead conservationist, who was accompanied by several museum directors, were prepared for the sudden deterioration of the plaster. Fortunately, a specialist from the national museum was called in to assess the damage before any permanent loss occurred.

Which choice best fits the underlined portion of the passage?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: was

Answer

was
The correct choice is 'was'. When compound subjects are joined by 'neither... nor', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. In this sentence, the closer subject is 'the lead conservationist', which is singular. The relative clause 'who was accompanied by several museum directors' separates the subject from the verb and contains the plural noun 'museum directors', but this parenthetical description does not change the fact that 'the lead conservationist' is the singular subject. Therefore, the singular past-tense verb 'was' is required to agree with the subject and maintain tense consistency with the rest of the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the verb in question.
The subject is a compound subject joined by 'neither... nor': 'Neither the volunteers nor the lead conservationist'.
When subjects are joined by 'neither... nor', the verb must agree with the subject closest to it.
2
Identify the closer subject and its grammatical number.
The closer subject is 'the lead conservationist', which is singular.
The intervening relative clause 'who was accompanied by several museum directors' describes the subject but does not change its number.
3
Determine the appropriate tense based on the context.
The surrounding context is in the past tense ('had proceeded', 'was accompanied', 'was called').
Consistent verb tense must be maintained throughout the passage.
4
Select the verb form that is both singular and in the past tense.
The correct verb form is 'was'.
'was' is singular and past tense, satisfying all grammatical constraints.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects and Intervening Phrases
Question 34Question →

The sentence below has a missing pronoun. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Both the project manager and the lead designer presented findings to the executive board.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

their
The compound antecedent 'Both the project manager and the lead designer' is plural, requiring the plural possessive pronoun 'their' to achieve correct agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the missing pronoun in the sentence.
The antecedent is the compound subject 'Both the project manager and the lead designer'.
The pronoun must agree with this antecedent in number, person, and gender.
2
Determine the number of the compound antecedent.
Two singular nouns joined by 'and' form a plural compound antecedent.
A compound subject joined by 'and' is grammatically plural.
3
Select the correct pronoun that matches the plural antecedent.
The plural possessive pronoun 'their' is correct.
Singular possessive pronouns like 'his', 'her', or 'its' do not agree with a plural antecedent.

Key Concept

A compound antecedent joined by 'and' is plural and requires a plural pronoun for agreement.
Estimated Time:45s
Question 35Question →

Many species of carnivorous plants grow in environments with nutrient-poor soil. The primary source of nutrients for these unique plants are the insects they capture. Over time, these plants have evolved specialized traps to survive.

Which of the following options is the correct replacement for the bolded verb to ensure proper subject-verb agreement?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: is

Answer

The correct choice is 'is' because it is singular and agrees with the singular subject 'source' in the present tense.
The choice 'is' correctly matches the singular subject 'source' and maintains the present-tense consistency established in the rest of the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the sentence containing the verb in question.
The subject is 'The primary source', which is a singular noun phrase.
The prepositional phrase 'of nutrients for these unique plants' separates the subject from the verb but does not change the subject's grammatical number.
2
Determine the correct verb form that agrees with the subject and fits the tense of the passage.
The verb must be singular and in the present tense to match 'source' and coordinate with the other present-tense verbs in the passage like 'grow' and 'capture'. The correct form is 'is'.
Subject-verb agreement requires singular subjects to pair with singular verbs, and tense consistency requires keeping the sentence in the present tense.

Key Concept

Subject-verb agreement with intervening prepositional phrases
Question 36Question →

Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence below to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Each of the candidate countries, in order to comply with the new environmental treaty, must submit national carbon emissions report by the end of the fiscal year.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

its
The correct pronoun is 'its'. Under standard written English rules, the indefinite pronoun 'Each' is singular and requires a singular pronoun for agreement. The plural noun 'countries' in the prepositional phrase 'of the candidate countries' does not change the singular nature of the subject. Because countries are non-human entities, the singular, gender-neutral possessive pronoun 'its' is correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical antecedent of the missing pronoun.
The antecedent is the singular indefinite pronoun 'Each'.
The prepositional phrase 'of the candidate countries' is an intervening modifier and does not affect the grammatical number of the subject 'Each'.
2
Select the pronoun that agrees in number and gender with the antecedent.
Use the singular, gender-neutral possessive pronoun 'its'.
Since the antecedent 'Each' is singular and refers to nations (neuter/inanimate entities), it requires the singular pronoun 'its' to ensure grammatical agreement.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Question 37Question →

Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence to ensure proper pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Before embarking on the international tour, the symphony orchestra, which had recently hired a new conductor, rehearsed final program for three consecutive days.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

its
The singular collective noun 'symphony orchestra' acts as a single unit in this context, so it requires the singular possessive pronoun 'its' to achieve proper agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the pronoun.
The antecedent is 'the symphony orchestra'.
The pronoun represents the owner of the final program rehearsed by the orchestra.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the antecedent.
The noun phrase 'the symphony orchestra' is a singular collective noun.
It refers to a single collective organization acting as a single unit.
3
Determine the proper pronoun case and form.
A possessive pronoun is needed to modify the noun 'program'.
The pronoun indicates ownership of the final program.
4
Select the correct singular possessive pronoun.
The pronoun 'its' is singular and possessive.
It agrees with 'symphony orchestra' in number and demonstrates ownership.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Estimated Time:45s
Question 38Question →

The following passage contains two blanks where verb forms are missing. What are the correct present-tense forms of the verbs that should fill these blanks to maintain proper subject-verb agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Each of the linguistic features discovered in the isolated valley that the language developed independently of neighboring dialects. Indeed, a team of researchers, accompanied by local guides and translators, the phonology of this unique tongue to document its history.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct verb forms are 'suggests' for the first blank and 'studies' for the second blank.
For the first blank, 'suggests' is correct because the subject is 'Each', which is a singular indefinite pronoun. The modifying prepositional phrase 'of the linguistic features' does not change the number of the subject. For the second blank, 'studies' is correct because the subject is the collective noun 'team', which is singular. The parenthetical phrase 'accompanied by local guides and translators' does not affect the number of the main subject.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject and its grammatical number for the first blank.
The subject is the indefinite pronoun 'Each', which is grammatically singular.
The prepositional phrase 'of the linguistic features' contains a plural noun but acts only as a modifier; it does not change the singular nature of the subject 'Each'.
2
Select the correct present-tense verb form for the first blank.
The singular verb form 'suggests' is chosen.
A singular subject requires a singular verb form to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.
3
Identify the subject and its grammatical number for the second blank.
The subject is the collective noun 'team', which is singular in this context.
The parenthetical phrase 'accompanied by local guides and translators' is set off by commas and does not alter the singular grammatical number of the subject 'team'.
4
Select the correct present-tense verb form for the second blank.
The singular verb form 'studies' is chosen.
A singular subject requires a singular verb form to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.

Key Concept

Subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, and intervening prepositional or parenthetical phrases.
Question 39Question →

The following passage is an excerpt from an essay on ancient Mesopotamian history.

Archaeologists study cuneiform to understand ancient administration. Every one of the clay tablets recovered from the ancient library of Ashurbanipal, despite suffering extensive water damage over the millennia, provide invaluable insights into Mesopotamian trade agreements. Today, these texts help historians reconstruct early economic networks.

Which of the following choices is the best replacement for the underlined word?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: provides

Answer

provides
The correct answer is the singular, present-tense verb 'provides' because it agrees with the singular subject 'Every one'. The intervening prepositional phrases containing plural nouns do not change the subject, and the present tense maintains consistency with the surrounding text.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical subject of the clause containing the underlined verb.
The subject is the indefinite pronoun 'Every one', which is singular.
Determining whether the subject is singular or plural is essential to establish correct subject-verb agreement.
2
Examine the intervening phrases between the subject and the verb.
The phrase 'of the clay tablets recovered from the ancient library of Ashurbanipal, despite suffering extensive water damage over the millennia' contains plural nouns ('tablets', 'millennia') but does not change the singular nature of the subject 'Every one'.
Intervening prepositional phrases and modifiers do not alter the number of the subject.
3
Select the verb form that agrees in number and maintains tense consistency.
The singular, present-tense verb 'provides' matches 'Every one' and aligns with the present tense established in the surrounding sentences ('study', 'help').
This resolves the grammatical error without introducing tense inconsistency.

Key Concept

Subject-verb agreement with intervening prepositional phrases and indefinite pronouns.
Question 40Question →

Read the passage below, which contains verbs in parentheses. Complete the passage by typing the correct present-tense form of each verb in the corresponding blank to ensure proper subject-verb agreement.

Fill in the blanks below

The study of bioluminescent organisms in the deep ocean has revealed fascinating evolutionary adaptations. Hovering near the hydrothermal vents of the Mariana Trench (to be) a swarm of predatory comb jellies, whose delicate structure, in addition to their glowing cilia, (to baffle) marine biologists. Neither the team's chief investigator nor the sensor technicians (to believe) that these organisms can survive at such extreme pressures.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct present-tense verb forms are 'is' for the first blank, 'baffles' for the second blank, and 'believe' for the third blank.
The verb in the first blank must be 'is' to agree with the singular subject 'swarm' in the inverted clause. The verb in the second blank must be 'baffles' to agree with the singular subject 'structure', as the parenthetical phrase does not change the subject's grammatical number. The verb in the third blank must be 'believe' to agree with 'technicians', which is the closer subject in the 'neither... nor...' construction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the subject and correct verb form for the first blank.
The verb form is 'is'.
The sentence has an inverted structure where the verb precedes the subject. The subject is 'a swarm', which is a singular collective noun. Modifying prepositional phrases like 'of predatory comb jellies' do not change the number of the subject. Therefore, the verb must be singular.
2
Determine the subject and correct verb form for the second blank.
The verb form is 'baffles'.
The subject of the relative clause is 'structure', which is singular. The parenthetical prepositional phrase 'in addition to their glowing cilia' does not alter the number of the subject. Thus, the verb must be singular.
3
Determine the subject and correct verb form for the third blank.
The verb form is 'believe'.
The subjects are joined by the correlative conjunction 'neither... nor...'. In this construction, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. The closest subject is 'technicians', which is plural, so the verb must be plural.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Inverted Syntax, Intervening Phrases, and Correlative Conjunctions
Estimated Time:1m 30s
PreviousPage 2 / 21Next