Examkin

Subject-Verb Agreement

70 questions

All types70Multiple choice37Fill in the blank33
Question 1Question →

The following passage is an excerpt from an essay about art conservation:

"The preservation of historical landmarks often requires a delicate balance between authenticity and safety. During the recent renovation of the ancient cathedral, a team of specialized conservators was tasked with stabilizing the crumbling facade. The integrity of the stained-glass windows, which date back to the twelfth century and represent some of the finest examples of Gothic art in the region, are a primary concern for the preservationists. They must ensure that the delicate leading holding the glass panes together is not compromised during the structural reinforcements."

Which of the following options is the correct replacement for the underlined word "are"?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: is

Answer

is
The singular verb 'is' correctly agrees with the singular subject 'integrity' and maintains the present tense established in the surrounding context.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical subject of the clause containing the underlined verb.
The subject is the singular noun 'integrity.' The plural nouns 'windows' and 'examples' are objects within intervening prepositional phrases and relative clauses ('of the stained-glass windows, which date back to the twelfth century and represent some of the finest examples of Gothic art in the region') and do not affect the verb's agreement.
A verb must agree in number with its true grammatical subject, not with nouns inside modifying phrases or clauses.
2
Determine the appropriate number (singular or plural) for the verb.
Since 'integrity' is singular, the verb must be singular. This eliminates the plural forms 'are' (NO CHANGE) and 'were.'
Singular subjects require singular verbs.
3
Analyze the tense of the surrounding sentences to ensure consistency.
The passage discusses general principles ('requires') and ongoing concerns ('must ensure', 'is not compromised') in the present tense. Therefore, the verb must be in the present tense ('is'), which eliminates the past-tense form 'was.'
Verb tenses must remain consistent unless there is a logical reason to shift tenses.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement
Question 2Question →

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 3Question →

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 4Question →

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 5Question →

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 6Question →

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 7Question →

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
Question 8Question →

The following passage is about gallery design. Which present-tense form of the verb 'present' should be typed in the blank to ensure proper subject-verb agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

The curation of contemporary art exhibits requires careful planning. Each of the new gallery spaces unique challenges for the lighting design team.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

presents
The singular indefinite pronoun 'Each' acts as the subject of the sentence, which requires the singular verb form 'presents'. The plural noun 'spaces' is part of the prepositional phrase 'of the new gallery spaces' and does not affect the agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical subject of the clause.
The subject is the indefinite pronoun 'Each'.
The verb must agree in number with its subject rather than any nouns in modifying phrases.
2
Determine if the subject is singular or plural.
The pronoun 'Each' is singular.
Indefinite pronouns such as 'each', 'either', and 'everyone' are grammatically singular.
3
Disregard any intervening phrases between the subject and the verb.
The prepositional phrase 'of the new gallery spaces' modifies the subject but does not change its grammatical number.
Intervening phrases often contain plural nouns that can mislead readers into choosing a plural verb.
4
Select the correct singular present-tense form of the verb.
The correct form is 'presents'.
A singular subject requires a singular verb ending in '-s' in the present tense.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Singular Indefinite Pronouns and Intervening Phrases
Question 9Question →

Historically, communities in arid climates have struggled to secure reliable water sources. Among the most remarkable achievements of ancient engineering, the network of subterranean aqueducts known as qanats, which was developed in Persia thousands of years ago, still supply water to communities in modern-day Iran. By tapping into mountain aquifers, these systems deliver water entirely by gravity.

Which option is the correct form of the underlined verb in the passage?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: supplies

Answer

supplies
The singular verb 'supplies' is correct because the subject of the clause is 'network', which is singular. The plural nouns 'aqueducts' and 'qanats' are object nouns within modifying phrases and do not affect the subject-verb agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the verb in question.
The subject is the singular noun 'network'.
To ensure correct subject-verb agreement, we must locate the noun that performs the action.
2
Analyze intervening phrases and clauses to avoid distractor nouns.
Phrases like 'of subterranean aqueducts', 'known as qanats', and the clause 'which was developed...' contain plural nouns ('aqueducts', 'qanats', 'years'), but they are modifier phrases that do not change the singular nature of the subject 'network'.
Identifying modifier phrases prevents matching the verb to nearby plural nouns instead of the actual subject.
3
Select the verb form that matches the singular subject in the present tense.
The singular verb form is 'supplies'.
A singular subject requires a singular verb form to maintain proper grammatical agreement.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Phrases
Estimated Time:45s
Question 10Question →

The annual migration of monarch butterflies spans thousands of miles from Canada to Mexico. A single cluster of these orange-and-black insects [underline]are[/underline] capable of covering tree trunks completely during the winter months. Which choice best corrects the underlined portion of the passage?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: is

Answer

is
The correct answer is the singular present-tense verb 'is'. The true subject of the clause is 'A single cluster', which is singular. The prepositional phrase 'of these orange-and-black insects' separates the subject from the verb but does not affect the agreement. The verb must also remain in the present tense to match the present-tense verb 'spans' established in the first sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical subject of the sentence.
The subject is the singular noun phrase 'A single cluster'.
The intervening phrase 'of these orange-and-black insects' contains a plural noun, but it acts as a prepositional modifier and does not change the singular nature of the true subject.
2
Select the verb form that agrees with the singular subject and maintains tense consistency.
The correct verb form is the singular, present-tense 'is'.
The verb must be singular to match the subject and present-tense to match 'spans' in the preceding sentence.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement
Estimated Time:45s
Question 11Question →

Complete the sentence by typing the correct present-tense form of the verb 'to be' ('is' or 'are') in the blank to ensure proper subject-verb agreement.

Fill in the blanks below

Each of the old acoustic guitars in the workshop crafted from aged spruce wood.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

is
The correct word to fill in the blank is 'is'. The subject of the sentence is the indefinite pronoun 'Each', which is grammatically singular. The plural noun 'guitars' is part of the intervening prepositional phrase 'of the old acoustic guitars' and does not affect the agreement. Therefore, the singular verb 'is' is required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the sentence.
The subject is 'Each', which is a singular indefinite pronoun.
Subject-verb agreement requires the verb to agree in number with the grammatical subject.
2
Identify any intervening phrases between the subject and the verb.
The phrase 'of the old acoustic guitars in the workshop' is a prepositional phrase that modifies the subject.
Nouns inside prepositional phrases (like the plural noun 'guitars') do not change the grammatical number of the subject.
3
Determine the correct verb form based on the subject's number.
The singular subject 'Each' requires the singular present-tense verb 'is'.
A singular subject must be paired with a singular verb form.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns and Intervening Phrases
Question 12Question →

While many scholars focus on the primary texts of the Byzantine Empire, neither of the newly cataloged manuscripts, which contain detailed accounts of daily court rituals and military expeditions, <u>have been</u> fully translated. Scholars believe these documents will shed light on the empire's complex administrative structures. Consequently, a team of linguists is preparing a comprehensive translation project.

Which of the following choices represents the correct grammatical form for the underlined portion of the passage?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: has been

Answer

The correct answer is the option that replaces the underlined portion with 'has been'.
The correct answer is the option 'has been' because the subject of the clause is the singular indefinite pronoun 'neither'. The verb must be singular to agree with it, and the present perfect aspect 'has been' aligns with the present tense context established by 'focus' and 'believe'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the grammatical subject of the verb in the underlined portion.
The subject is the indefinite pronoun 'neither', which is singular.
Verb agreement must be determined by the singular subject 'neither', not the plural nouns in the intervening phrases.
2
Analyze the surrounding context to determine the appropriate verb tense.
The surrounding verbs ('focus', 'believe', 'is preparing') establish a present-tense context.
Maintaining tense consistency prevents unnecessary shifts in the narrative.
3
Select the verb form that satisfies both singular agreement and present perfect tense.
'has been' is the singular, present perfect form.
It resolves the subject-verb agreement error without introducing tense shifts.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns and Intervening Phrases
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 13Question →

The passage below contains verbs in parentheses. To establish proper subject-verb agreement throughout the passage, what are the correct present-tense forms of the verbs that should replace the blanks?

Fill in the blanks below

Neither the lead researchers studying the geothermal anomalies nor the chief volcanologist supervising the project (expect) that the new data will contradict established models. Indeed, key among the findings that have emerged from the deep-sea expeditions (be) the discovery of several previously unknown extremophile species.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct present-tense forms are 'expects' for the first blank and 'is' for the second blank.
For the first blank, the compound subject is joined by 'neither... nor', so the verb must agree with the closer subject, 'the chief volcanologist' (singular), which requires the singular present-tense form 'expects'. For the second blank, the sentence has an inverted structure where the verb precedes the subject. The subject is the singular head noun 'discovery', which requires the singular present-tense verb 'is'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the verb in the first sentence.
The subject is a compound subject joined by the correlative conjunctions 'neither... nor': 'Neither the lead researchers... nor the chief volcanologist...'
When subjects are joined by 'neither... nor', the verb must agree with the subject closest to it.
2
Determine the agreement and form for the first blank.
The closer subject is 'the chief volcanologist', which is singular. Thus, the singular present-tense form 'expects' is required.
Matching the singular subject 'volcanologist' requires the singular form of the verb.
3
Identify the subject of the verb in the second sentence.
The sentence is inverted, meaning the subject follows the verb. The subject is the noun phrase 'the discovery of several previously unknown extremophile species'. The head noun of this phrase is 'discovery' (singular).
Inverted sentences place the verb before the subject, and intervening prepositional phrases do not affect agreement.
4
Determine the agreement and form for the second blank.
The singular subject 'discovery' requires the singular present-tense form of 'be', which is 'is'.
A singular subject must take a singular verb, despite the presence of intervening plural nouns like 'findings' or 'expeditions'.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 14Question →

Many tourists visit the botanical garden to see the exotic plants. A cluster of colorful orchids [1] grow near the entrance, attracting bees and butterflies alike. Visitors often stop to take photographs of the vibrant display.

Which of the following is the best replacement for the underlined portion marked [1]?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: grows

Answer

grows
The grammatical subject of the clause is the singular noun 'cluster'. The prepositional phrase 'of colorful orchids' contains a plural noun, but it does not change the number of the subject. Therefore, a singular verb is required. The verb form 'grows' is singular and fits the present-tense context of the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical subject of the clause.
The subject is the singular noun phrase 'A cluster'.
The verb must agree in number with this subject, not with the plural noun 'orchids' inside the intervening prepositional phrase.
2
Select the verb form that agrees with the singular subject 'cluster' in the present tense.
The singular present-tense verb is 'grows'.
This establishes grammatically correct subject-verb agreement.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Phrases
Question 15Question →

The sentence below has a blank where a verb is missing. Read the sentence carefully and determine the correct verb form. What is the correct present-tense form of the verb 'to be' that completes the sentence to maintain proper subject-verb agreement?

Fill in the blanks below

Neither of the research proposals submitted by the physics department, despite containing groundbreaking theories on quantum entanglement, considered viable by the review board.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct present-tense verb to fill the blank is 'is'.
The correct present-tense verb form is 'is' because the subject is 'neither,' which is a singular indefinite pronoun. Singular subjects require singular verbs, regardless of any intervening prepositional phrases ('of the research proposals...') or parenthetical modifiers ('despite containing groundbreaking theories...').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the clause.
The subject of the clause is the singular indefinite pronoun 'neither'. The phrase 'of the research proposals...' is a prepositional phrase modifying 'neither' and does not affect the number of the subject.
Subject-verb agreement is governed by the head noun or pronoun of the subject phrase, not by intervening prepositional modifiers.
2
Identify parenthetical or non-essential modifiers that intervene.
The phrase 'despite containing groundbreaking theories on quantum entanglement' is an appositive/parenthetical modifier. It contains plural nouns like 'theories' but does not change the singular nature of the subject.
Intervening phrases, clauses, or parentheticals do not change the number of the subject.
3
Match the singular subject with the correct present-tense form of the verb 'to be'.
The singular present-tense form of 'to be' is 'is'.
The singular subject 'neither' requires the singular verb 'is'.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Singular Indefinite Pronouns and Intervening Plural Modifiers
Question 16Question →

Read the sentence below. Fill in the blank with the correct present-tense form of the verb in parentheses to ensure proper subject-verb agreement. What is the correct form of the verb?

Fill in the blanks below

A team of aerospace engineers (analyze) the daily telemetry data sent back by the Mars rover.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

analyzes (or analyses)
The correct verb form is 'analyzes' (or 'analyses'). The subject of the verb is the singular noun 'team', not the plural noun 'engineers', which is part of the intervening prepositional phrase 'of aerospace engineers'. Under the rules of subject-verb agreement, a singular subject must be paired with a singular verb form.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the sentence.
The subject is the noun phrase 'A team of aerospace engineers'. The head noun of this phrase is 'team', which is a singular collective noun. The plural noun 'engineers' is the object of the prepositional phrase 'of aerospace engineers' and is not the subject of the sentence.
Finding the grammatical subject determines whether the verb must be singular or plural.
2
Select the correct singular present-tense form of the verb.
The singular form of the verb 'to analyze' in the present tense is 'analyzes' (or 'analyses').
A singular subject requires a singular verb for proper subject-verb agreement.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Prepositional Phrases
Estimated Time:30s
Question 17Question →

The construction of the cathedral’s vaulted ceiling represents a triumph of medieval engineering, yet the project was plagued by structural instability. Neither the lead architect who designed the complex geometry of the arches nor the supervisor of the apprentice stonemasons who executed the plan were aware of the fatal flaw in the foundation.

Which choice makes the underlined portion of the sentence grammatically correct?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: was

Answer

The correct option is 'was' because the singular subject 'supervisor' requires a singular verb, and the past tense must be maintained to match the narrative context of the passage.
The correct answer is the past-tense, singular verb 'was' because the subject of the verb is the singular noun 'supervisor'. Under the rules of 'neither... nor' conjunctions, the verb must agree with the closer subject, which is 'supervisor'. The intervening prepositional phrase 'of the apprentice stonemasons' and relative clause 'who executed the plan' do not affect the subject's number. Additionally, the past tense 'was' is required to maintain consistency with the past-tense verbs used elsewhere in the sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the clause containing the underlined verb.
The sentence uses the correlative conjunction 'neither... nor' to connect two subjects: 'architect' (singular) and 'supervisor' (singular).
When subjects are joined by 'neither... nor', the verb must agree in number with the subject closer to it.
2
Analyze the modifiers between the subject and the verb.
The phrase 'of the apprentice stonemasons' and the relative clause 'who executed the plan' are intervening modifiers that do not affect the grammatical number of the subject 'supervisor'.
The head noun of the second subject is the singular noun 'supervisor', not the plural 'stonemasons'.
3
Determine the correct tense for the verb.
The passage establishes a past-tense narrative ('was plagued', 'designed', 'executed').
Verb tenses must remain consistent throughout the passage unless there is a logical reason to shift time frames.
4
Select the option that is singular and in the past tense.
The singular past-tense verb is 'was'.
This choice correctly resolves both the subject-verb agreement and tense consistency requirements.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions and Intervening Phrases
Question 18Question →

The preservation of these historical artifacts remains a priority. Indeed, every one of the archival boxes containing the letters, journals, and photographs of the famous polar explorer are in the climate-controlled vault to prevent deterioration. Conservators monitor the room's temperature daily.

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

Show answer & explanation

Answer: is

Answer

The singular present-tense verb 'is' correctly matches the singular subject 'every one' and maintains the present tense of the passage.
The subject of the verb is the singular pronoun 'every one.' The long prepositional phrase containing plural nouns is an intervening modifier and does not change the singular nature of the subject. Therefore, the verb must be the singular form 'is' to agree with the subject. Furthermore, using the present-tense verb maintains consistency with the present-tense verbs 'remains' and 'monitor' in the surrounding sentences.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the verb in the underlined portion.
The subject is the singular pronoun 'every one'.
The intervening phrase 'of the archival boxes containing the letters, journals, and photographs of the famous polar explorer' contains plural nouns, but the actual grammatical subject is the singular pronoun preceding this phrase.
2
Analyze the tense of the surrounding sentences in the passage.
The surrounding sentences use present-tense verbs ('remains' and 'monitor').
To maintain consistency, the correct verb form must be in the present tense.
3
Select the verb form that is both singular and in the present tense.
The correct choice is 'is'.
This resolves the subject-verb agreement error without introducing an incorrect tense shift.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Phrases
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 19Question →

The passage below contains a blank where a verb should be. Read the passage and determine the correct present-tense form of the verb 'suspect' to ensure proper subject-verb agreement. What is the correct form of the verb that completes the sentence?

Fill in the blanks below

Neither the lead curator nor the restoration specialists who analyzed the pigments on the damaged Renaissance fresco that the underlying plaster is deteriorating.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

suspect
The correct answer is 'suspect'. The sentence features a compound subject joined by the correlative conjunctions 'neither... nor'. In such constructions, the verb must agree with the closer subject. The closer subject is 'the restoration specialists', which is plural. Therefore, the verb must also be plural ('suspect'). The singular noun 'fresco' at the end of the relative clause does not affect the agreement of the main verb.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the verb in the sentence.
The subject is a compound subject joined by 'neither... nor': 'the lead curator' (singular) and 'the restoration specialists' (plural).
To determine subject-verb agreement, the subject must be correctly identified.
2
Apply the rule for compound subjects joined by 'neither... nor'.
The verb must agree with the closer subject, which is the plural noun 'specialists'.
When subjects are joined by 'neither... nor', the verb agrees with the closer subject.
3
Select the correct present-tense form of the verb 'suspect' to agree with the plural subject.
The plural form is 'suspect'.
A plural subject requires a plural verb form without an 's' ending.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects (Neither/Nor)
Question 20Question →

The following passage is an excerpt about historical architecture.

[1] During the Middle Ages, master builders constructed massive stone cathedrals to reflect the grandeur of their faith. [2] The design of these towering structures, which often included intricate stained-glass windows and elaborate stone carvings, were carefully planned years before construction began. [3] Every detail was calculated to ensure structural stability.

Which of the following is the correct way to write the underlined word 'were' in the second sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: was

Answer

The correct option is 'was' because the singular subject 'design' requires the singular past-tense verb 'was' to agree in number and maintain the passage's historical tense.
The correct option is 'was'. The grammatical subject of the clause is the singular noun 'design'. The prepositional phrase 'of these towering structures' and the relative clause 'which often included...' contain plural nouns, but they are intervening modifiers that do not alter the singular subject. To match 'design' and maintain the past-tense narrative established by the verbs 'constructed' and 'began', the singular past-tense verb 'was' must be used.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the verb in the underlined portion of the sentence.
The subject is 'design', which is singular. The plural nouns 'structures', 'windows', and 'carvings' are part of intervening prepositional and relative clauses and do not function as the subject.
A verb must agree in number with its true subject, not with intervening nouns in descriptive phrases.
2
Determine the correct tense and form of the verb that matches the subject.
The narrative is written in the past tense ('constructed', 'included', 'began'). Therefore, the singular past-tense verb 'was' is required to agree with 'design'.
This choice resolves the subject-verb agreement error while maintaining the tense consistency of the paragraph.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Phrases
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