Subject-Verb Agreement

2 questions

All types2 Multiple choice1 Fill in the blank1

Fill in each blank with the correct present-tense conjugated form of the indicated verb ('to suspect' for the first blank and 'to indicate' for the second blank) so that the sentence strictly adheres to standard English subject-verb agreement rules.

Fill in the blanks below

Neither the lead archaeologist nor her research assistants that the subtle variations in soil composition a significant shift in ancient agricultural practices.

Show answer & explanation

Answer

The first blank requires the plural verb 'suspect', and the second blank requires the plural verb 'indicate'.

For the first blank, the correlative conjunction 'neither... nor' dictates that the verb agrees with the closer subject, 'research assistants' (plural), making 'suspect' the correct conjugation. For the second blank, the head noun of the subject phrase is the plural 'variations', which requires the plural verb 'indicate' despite the singular noun 'composition' occurring closer to the verb.

Step-by-Step Solution

Analyze the subject structure for the first clause containing the correlative conjunction 'Neither... nor'.

The compound subject is joined by 'Neither... nor', linking the singular noun 'the lead archaeologist' and the plural noun 'her research assistants'.

When subjects are joined by 'neither... nor', the verb must agree with the subject closest to it, which is the plural noun 'research assistants'.

Conjugate the verb 'to suspect' for the first blank.

Since the closer subject subject ('research assistants') is plural, the correct present-tense verb form is 'suspect'.

Plural subjects require plural verb forms without an '-s' suffix in the present tense.

Identify the simple subject and strip intervening modifier phrases for the dependent clause containing the second blank.

The complete subject phrase is 'the subtle variations in soil composition'. The prepositional phrase 'in soil composition' modifies the head noun 'variations'.

Intervening prepositional phrases do not change the number of the simple subject. The simple subject is the plural noun 'variations'.

Conjugate the verb 'to indicate' for the second blank.

The plural simple subject 'variations' requires the plural verb form 'indicate'.

Choosing 'indicates' would be a proximity error caused by agreeing with the singular noun 'composition' inside the prepositional phrase.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions and Intervening Prepositional Phrases

Question 2Question →

Read the following sentence from an academic essay draft:

"A meticulous analysis of the historical documents, alongside recent archaeological discoveries from the excavation sites, reveal that the ancient trade routes were far more extensive than previously assumed."

Which of the following revisions correctly maintains standard subject-verb agreement?

A meticulous analysis of the historical documents, alongside recent archaeological discoveries from the excavation sites, reveals that the ancient trade routes were far more extensive than previously assumed.

A meticulous analysis of the historical documents, alongside recent archaeological discoveries from the excavation sites, reveal that the ancient trade routes were far more extensive than previously assumed.

A meticulous analysis of the historical documents, alongside recent archaeological discoveries from the excavation sites, are revealing that the ancient trade routes were far more extensive than previously assumed.

A meticulous analysis of the historical documents, alongside recent archaeological discoveries from the excavation sites, have revealed that the ancient trade routes was far more extensive than previously assumed.

A meticulous analysis of the historical documents, alongside recent archaeological discoveries from the excavation sites, reveals that the ancient trade routes was far more extensive than previously assumed.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: A meticulous analysis of the historical documents, alongside recent archaeological discoveries from the excavation sites, reveals that the ancient trade routes were far more extensive than previously assumed.

Answer

The revision that changes 'reveal' to 'reveals' while preserving 'were' correctly maintains subject-verb agreement across both the main clause and the dependent clause.

The simple subject of the main clause is 'analysis', which is singular. Expressions introduced by 'alongside', 'together with', or 'as well as' are prepositional modifiers and do not create a plural compound subject. Therefore, the singular verb 'reveals' is required. Additionally, the plural subject 'routes' in the dependent clause correctly matches the plural verb 'were'.

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the primary grammatical subject of the main clause.

The core subject is the singular noun 'analysis'.

The words following 'analysis' ('of the historical documents' and 'alongside recent archaeological discoveries...') are prepositional/modifier phrases that do not change the number of the subject.

Determine the correct verb form for the main clause predicate.

The singular subject 'analysis' requires the singular verb 'reveals' rather than the plural 'reveal'.

Phrases introduced by prepositions or compound prepositions like 'alongside', 'as well as', or 'in addition to' do not form compound subjects.

Verify agreement in the subordinate clause.

The plural subject 'trade routes' correctly pairs with the plural past-tense verb 'were'.

The dependent clause subject 'routes' is plural and must maintain plural agreement.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Prepositional Phrases

Subject-Verb Agreement

Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

Key Concept

Common Mistakes

Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

Key Concept

Common Mistakes