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Question

Difficulty: HardSubject-Verb Agreement (Concord)

Complete the sentence below by supplying the grammatically correct form of the auxiliary verb in each blank to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.

Answer:The comprehensive analysis of market trends, together with several detailed case studies, 【has】 been published, although more than one analyst 【has】 questioned its core assumptions.

Answer

The correct auxiliary verb for both blanks is 'has'.
Both blanks require the singular auxiliary verb 'has'. In the first clause, the singular subject 'analysis' remains singular despite being followed by the quasi-coordinating phrase 'together with several detailed case studies'. In the second clause, the construction 'more than one' followed by a singular noun ('analyst') grammatically requires a singular verb.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main subject of the first clause before the intervening phrase.
The singular noun 'analysis' is the head of the subject. The phrase 'together with several detailed case studies' is a quasi-coordinating prepositional modifier and does not make the subject plural.
Parenthetical or quasi-coordinating expressions such as 'together with', 'along with', and 'as well as' do not change the number of the head subject.
2
Determine the correct verb agreement for the first blank.
Since 'analysis' is a singular noun, the singular auxiliary verb 'has' must be used.
A singular subject strictly requires a singular verb in present perfect tense.
3
Analyze the rule governing the quantifier expression in the second clause.
The noun phrase 'more than one analyst' consists of the structure 'more than one' followed by a singular countable noun.
Under formal grammatical concord rules, 'more than one' followed by a singular noun takes a singular verb, regardless of its plural semantic sense.
4
Determine the correct verb agreement for the second blank.
The singular auxiliary verb 'has' correctly completes 'has questioned'.
Grammatical agreement mandates a singular verb to agree with 'more than one analyst'.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Quasi-Coordinators and the 'More Than One' Rule
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Subject-Verb Agreement (Concord)

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