Grammatical Structure

902 questions

Question 361Question

Read the sentence below carefully. Which verb form correctly completes the statement to express an action completed before another past event?

'By the time the inspection team arrived at the factory, the manager _______ the safety log.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: had already updated

Answer

The correct option is 'had already updated' because it uses the past perfect tense to denote an event completed prior to another past time marker.
The past perfect form 'had already updated' is necessary because it refers to an action that occurred and was finished before another past event (the arrival of the inspection team).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary time frame established in the sentence.
The clause 'arrived at the factory' establishes a past point in time.
Verb tenses in dependent and main clauses must align logically in time sequence.
2
Determine the temporal relationship between the two past events.
Updating the log occurred prior to the arrival of the inspection team.
The introductory phrase 'By the time' signals an earlier completed action relative to another past milestone.
3
Select the verb tense that expresses past-before-past aspect.
'had already updated' (past perfect) is the grammatically appropriate verb form.
Past perfect ('had' + past participle) explicitly shows precedence in past time.

Key Concept

Sequence of Tenses: Past Perfect Aspect
Question 362Question

Read the sentence below carefully:

'Professor Okon is undeniably one of those dedicated environmental scientists who refuse to compromise _____ professional integrity despite intense political pressure.'

Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence in accordance with formal rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: their

Answer

their
In complex sentences using the structure 'one of those [plural noun] who...', the relative pronoun 'who' takes the plural noun immediately preceding it ('environmental scientists') as its antecedent. Because 'scientists' is plural, the possessive pronoun that refers back to it inside the relative clause must also be plural. Therefore, 'their' is the only syntactically correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause containing the blank and locate its relative pronoun subject.
The blank occurs inside the relative clause 'who refuse to compromise _____ professional integrity'. The relative pronoun is 'who'.
Determining the subject of the clause establishes where the antecedent originates.
2
Trace the antecedent of the relative pronoun 'who'.
In the construction 'one of those [plural noun] who...', the relative pronoun 'who' refers to the plural head noun 'environmental scientists', not the singular subject 'Professor Okon'.
Professor Okon belongs to a group of scientists, and that entire group of scientists refuses to compromise.
3
Select the pronoun that matches the plural antecedent in number and person.
Since 'environmental scientists' is a third-person plural noun, the third-person plural possessive pronoun 'their' must be used.
Formal pronoun-antecedent agreement requires strict alignment in number (plural) between the antecedent and the corresponding possessive pronoun.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement in Relative Clauses Following 'One of those... who'
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 363Question

The lead defense counsel argued that since the defendant was out of the country on the night of the burglary, he __________ committed the crime. Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence?

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Answer: could not have

Answer

The correct choice is 'could not have', which logically expresses negative deduction about a past situation.
The modal phrase 'could not have' accurately conveys logical impossibility in the past given the conclusive evidence that the defendant was abroad during the event.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence
The premise states the defendant was physically outside the country, establishing that committing the crime was impossible.
Modal selection depends on expressing past logical impossibility.
2
Identify the proper modal structure for past impossibility
The structure 'could not have + past participle' expresses negative deduction in the past.
Standard English grammar requires 'could not have' followed by the past participle 'committed'.
3
Eliminate ungrammatical option structures
Options featuring double modals ('might not can'), incorrect infinitive markers ('must not to have'), or past form mismatch ('should not had') are invalid.
Modal verbs cannot take to-infinitives, double modal combinations, or past tense auxiliary forms.

Key Concept

Modal Auxiliaries for Past Logical Deduction
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 364Question

Consider the following sentence:

"Neither the chief curator nor the archival assistants who cataloged the ancient manuscripts presented _____ evaluation to the board of trustees."

In the sentence above, which pronoun correctly fills the blank to maintain formal rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: their

Answer

The correct pronoun is 'their' because when compound antecedents are joined by the correlative conjunction 'neither... nor', the pronoun must agree in number with the antecedent closer to it.
The choice 'their' is correct because when two antecedents are joined by 'neither... nor', formal English grammar requires the pronoun to agree in person and number with the antecedent closer to the pronoun. Here, the plural noun phrase 'archival assistants' is nearer to the blank than the singular 'chief curator', so the plural possessive pronoun 'their' must be used.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent structure in the sentence.
The sentence contains a compound antecedent joined by the correlative conjunction 'neither... nor': 'the chief curator' (singular) and 'the archival assistants' (plural).
Determining how the antecedents are connected establishes which grammatical rule applies.
2
Apply the rule of proximity for correlative conjunctions.
When subjects/antecedents are connected by 'neither... nor', the pronoun must agree with the nearer antecedent, which is 'archival assistants'.
The noun phrase closest to the pronoun position dictates the agreement features (number and person).
3
Select the pronoun matching the nearer antecedent in number.
Since 'archival assistants' is a plural noun phrase, the third-person plural possessive pronoun 'their' is required.
Plural antecedents demand plural pronouns to maintain proper grammatical concord.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions (Rule of Proximity)
Question 365Question

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with the grammatically correct auxiliary verb that maintains proper subject-verb agreement.

Fill in the blanks below

The number of candidates registered for the upcoming national examination risen sharply compared to last year.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

has
The expression 'The number of' denotes a singular total unit and strictly requires a singular verb. Therefore, 'has' is the grammatically correct auxiliary verb to complete the present perfect construction 'has risen'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical subject of the sentence.
The subject head noun is 'The number', modified by the prepositional phrase 'of candidates registered for the upcoming national examination'.
Intervening plural nouns inside prepositional phrases (e.g., 'candidates') do not alter the number of the head subject noun.
2
Apply the rule of concord for the expression 'The number of'.
The expression 'The number of' always takes a singular verb, whereas 'A number of' takes a plural verb.
'The number' specifies a single specific numerical figure or total.
3
Select the correct singular auxiliary verb form for the present perfect tense.
The singular auxiliary verb 'has' correctly pairs with the past participle 'risen'.
'Has' satisfies both the singular concord requirement and the aspectual demands of the verb phrase.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement ('The number of' vs 'A number of')
Question 366Question

Neither of the proposals submitted by the urban planners _______ acceptable to the municipal council. Which verb form correctly completes the sentence?

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Answer: is

Answer

The correct option is 'is' because the singular indefinite pronoun 'Neither' functions as the subject of the sentence and requires a singular verb.
The sentence requires a singular verb to agree with the head subject 'Neither'. The option 'is' is the only present-tense singular verb that maintains correct subject-verb concord.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head subject of the sentence
The subject is the indefinite pronoun 'Neither', not the object of the preposition ('proposals') or the phrase ('urban planners').
Prepositional phrases following indefinite pronouns do not change the grammatical number of the head subject.
2
Determine the grammatical number required for the verb
Indefinite pronouns such as 'Neither', 'Either', 'Each', and 'Everyone' are grammatically singular.
Singular subjects require singular verbs to maintain concord.
3
Select the correct singular verb form
'is' is singular, whereas 'are', 'were', and 'have been' are plural forms.
Choosing 'is' ensures proper subject-verb agreement.

Key Concept

Indefinite Pronoun Concord
Question 367Question

Which comparative form of the modifier correctly completes the sentence below?

Fill in the blanks below

Despite the heavy rain, the marathon runner moved than his competitors during the final stretch.
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Answer

The correct word to fill the blank is 'faster'.
The sentence compares the movement of the marathon runner to his competitors, signaled by the word 'than'. Single-syllable adverbs like 'fast' form their comparative degree by adding '-er', making 'faster' the grammatically correct word.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the comparative context in the sentence structure.
The word 'than' following the blank indicates that a comparison between two entities (the runner and his competitors) is being made.
When comparing two actions or subjects, the comparative degree of the modifier is required.
2
Determine the correct comparative form of the adverb 'fast'.
The comparative form of 'fast' is 'faster'.
One-syllable adverbs take the suffix '-er' to form their comparative degree.

Key Concept

Comparative degree of single-syllable adverbs
Question 368Question

Which conjunction correctly completes the sentence to introduce a clause of reason?

'The farmer harvested his crops early _______ heavy rains were forecasted for the weekend.'

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Answer: because

Answer

The correct conjunction is 'because'.
The subordinate clause 'heavy rains were forecasted for the weekend' explains the reason why the main action ('harvested his crops early') occurred. Therefore, the subordinating conjunction of cause 'because' is required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the main clause and the subordinate clause.
The main clause describes an action ('harvested his crops early'), while the subordinate clause provides the reason for that action ('heavy rains were forecasted').
Determining the semantic relationship between clauses dictates the required category of conjunction.
2
Select the appropriate subordinator that expresses cause or reason.
'Because' fits logically to link the reason to the main action.
Conjunctions of reason (e.g., because, as, since) join an action with its underlying explanation.

Key Concept

Causal Subordinating Conjunctions
Question 369Question

During the university senate meeting, the Vice-Chancellor recommended that the faculty dean _______ a revised curriculum before the commencement of the new academic session. Which verb form correctly completes the sentence?

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Answer: submit

Answer

The correct verb form to complete the sentence is 'submit'.
The verb 'recommended' introduces a noun clause that specifies a formal recommendation, which requires the mandative subjunctive mood. In the mandative subjunctive, the verb takes its base form ('submit') without any inflection for subject agreement or past tense.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main clause and verb structure of the sentence.
The main verb is 'recommended', followed by a 'that'-clause expressing an official recommendation or decree.
Verbs expressing recommendation, demand, request, or proposal trigger the mandative subjunctive mood in subordinate 'that'-clauses.
2
Determine the appropriate verb form for the mandative subjunctive mood.
The mandative subjunctive requires the bare base form of the verb, which is 'submit'.
The base form remains uninflected regardless of tense in the main clause or the singular/plural nature of the subject ('the faculty dean').

Key Concept

Mandative Subjunctive Mood
Question 370Question

Complete the sentence below by supplying the most appropriate preposition in the blank space.

Fill in the blanks below

Despite the executive board's enthusiasm for expanding into foreign markets, the chief financial officer remained strongly averse taking on additional high-interest bank loans.
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Answer

to
The adjective 'averse' (meaning disinclined or opposed) standardly requires the preposition 'to' when introducing the object of disinclination.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key adjective requiring a dependent preposition in the sentence context.
The adjective needing a specific prepositional complement is 'averse'.
In standard English grammar, certain adjectives strictly collocate with specific prepositions to form grammatical prepositional complement structures.
2
Determine the correct dependent preposition that collocates with 'averse'.
The correct preposition is 'to'.
The expression 'averse to' means having a strong feeling of opposition or antipathy towards something (e.g., 'averse to risk', 'averse to taking on debt').

Key Concept

Adjective + Preposition Collocation (Dependent Prepositions)
Question 371Question

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct form of the verb in brackets to express the mandative subjunctive mood.

Fill in the blanks below

The senate leader moved that the special investigative panel its preliminary findings directly to the plenary assembly before noon.
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Answer

submit
The main clause verb 'moved' functions as a verb of formal motion/proposal, which demands the mandative subjunctive in the following noun clause. The subjunctive form in English takes the uninflected base verb ('submit'), resisting both subject-verb agreement inflections (such as '-s') and tense backshifting.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the syntactic structure of the main clause and subordinate clause.
The main clause uses the governing verb of motion/proposal 'moved that...', introducing a subordinate noun clause that requires the mandative subjunctive mood.
In formal English, verbs expressing mandates, demands, resolutions, or motions (such as move, insist, demand, propose, recommend) mandate the subjunctive mood in the accompanying 'that'-clause.
2
Determine the appropriate morphological verb form for the blank.
The base (uninflected bare infinitive) form of the verb 'submit' must be used.
The mandative subjunctive requires the plain base form of the verb regardless of the subject's number (singular or plural) or the tense of the main verb in the governing clause.

Key Concept

Mandative Subjunctive Mood
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 372Question

Read the sentence below:

'The board interviewed three international experts, the most qualified of _____ was selected to direct the research institute.'

Which of the following words correctly completes the relative clause structure?

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Answer: whom

Answer

whom
The word 'whom' is the objective case relative pronoun required when introducing a relative clause after a preposition ('of') referring back to human antecedents ('international experts').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the role of the antecedent in the clause.
The antecedent is 'international experts', which refers to human beings.
Relative pronouns must agree in human vs. non-human reference with their antecedents.
2
Examine the grammatical position following the preposition 'of'.
The pronoun follows the preposition 'of' ('the most qualified of _____').
Prepositions govern objective case pronouns (e.g., of whom, to whom, with whom).
3
Select the relative pronoun that satisfies both human reference and objective case requirements.
'Whom' is the correct objective relative pronoun for human antecedents following a preposition.
'Who' is subject case, 'which' is non-human, and 'that' cannot follow a preposition directly in relative clauses.

Key Concept

Relative Clause Structure and Prepositional Object Pronouns
Question 373Question

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with the grammatically correct auxiliary verb that maintains proper subject-verb agreement.

Fill in the blanks below

Each of the applicants required to submit a valid identity card prior to the commencement of the interview.
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Answer

The correct verb form to fill the blank is 'is' (or 'was'), which agrees in number with the singular subject 'Each'.
The sentence subject is the singular indefinite pronoun 'Each'. In standard English grammar rules, 'each' mandates a singular verb form ('is' or 'was') despite being followed by a plural noun phrase ('of the applicants').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical subject of the sentence.
The syntactic subject is the indefinite pronoun 'Each', not the plural noun 'applicants'.
The phrase 'of the applicants' is a prepositional modifier and does not change the singular nature of the subject.
2
Determine the required concord for the subject 'Each'.
'Each' takes a singular verb form.
Distributive indefinite pronouns such as 'each', 'every', and 'neither' grammatically require singular verbs.
3
Select the correct singular auxiliary verb.
'is' (present tense) or 'was' (past tense) correctly completes the sentence.
Both 'is' and 'was' are singular forms that satisfy subject-verb agreement.

Key Concept

Indefinite Pronoun Concord ('Each' taking a singular verb)
Estimated Time:45s
Question 374Question

Which pronoun correctly fills the blank to ensure standard pronoun-antecedent agreement in the sentence below?

Fill in the blanks below

Many a seasoned negotiator who attended the summit failed to realize the full impact of compromise.
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Answer

The correct pronoun to fill the blank is 'his', 'her', or 'his or her'.
The expression 'many a' is followed by a singular countable noun ('negotiator') and functions grammatically as a singular antecedent. Consequently, formal pronoun-antecedent agreement requires a singular possessive pronoun ('his', 'her', or 'his or her') to refer back to it.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary noun phrase serving as the antecedent.
The antecedent is 'Many a seasoned negotiator'.
The distributive determiner phrase 'many a' takes a grammatically singular noun ('negotiator') and requires singular agreement throughout the sentence.
2
Determine the correct grammatical number for the possessive pronoun.
Because 'many a negotiator' is grammatically singular, the possessive pronoun referring back to it must also be singular ('his', 'her', or 'his or her').
Using a plural pronoun like 'their' violates formal agreement rules despite the plural sense implied by 'many'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with 'Many a'
Question 375Question

Consider the sentence below:

"A substantial proportion of the ancient manuscript, together with several rare historical relics, _____ scheduled for preservation, although not one of the curators who _____ managing the exhibit has expressed satisfaction."

Which pair of verbs correctly fills the blanks in the sentence above?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: is / are

Answer

The option containing the verb pair 'is / are' correctly completes the sentence while maintaining proper grammatical concord.
The verb pair 'is / are' is correct because the subject head in the first clause is 'manuscript' (singular), which governs the verb 'is' regardless of the parenthetical phrase 'together with...'. In the second clause, the relative pronoun 'who' modifies the plural antecedent 'curators', requiring the plural verb 'are'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the head noun and modifier structure of the first subject clause.
In the phrase 'A substantial proportion of the ancient manuscript', the fractional quantifier 'a proportion of' derives its grammatical number from the object of the preposition, 'manuscript' (singular). Furthermore, additions introduced by 'together with' are quasi-conjunctions/prepositional modifiers that do not make the subject compound or plural.
Parenthetical expressions such as 'together with', 'as well as', and 'along with' do not alter the number of the true subject.
2
Determine the correct verb for the first blank.
The singular subject 'manuscript' requires the singular verb form 'is'.
A singular head noun must take a singular finite verb.
3
Identify the antecedent of the relative pronoun 'who' in the second clause.
In the construction 'not one of the curators who...', the relative pronoun 'who' introduces a defining relative clause that directly modifies the plural noun 'curators', which acts as its antecedent.
In relative clause constructions following 'one of the [plural noun] who/that', the relative pronoun refers to the plural noun, not to the word 'one'.
4
Determine the correct verb for the second blank.
Since 'curators' is plural, the relative clause verb must be plural ('are'). Note that the main clause verb 'has expressed' correctly agrees with the singular subject 'not one'.
The verb inside a relative clause must agree in number with the antecedent of the relative pronoun.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement (Concord) with Fraction Quantifiers, Quasi-Conjunctions, and Relative Clause Antecedents
Question 376Question

A financial analyst drafted four alternative sentences for an executive summary on corporate restructuring. Which of the four sentences is grammatically correct, avoiding dangling modifiers, improper adverbial forms, and incorrect comparative adjective structures?

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Answer: Having scrutinized the audit reports meticulously, the chief analyst considered the new accounting framework far superior to the previous model.

Answer

The sentence beginning with 'Having scrutinized the audit reports meticulously, the chief analyst considered...' is the only grammatically correct option.
The sentence starting with 'Having scrutinized the audit reports meticulously, the chief analyst...' successfully integrates three distinct modifier rules: it places the logical agent ('the chief analyst') directly after the introductory participial phrase to prevent a dangling modifier, uses the adverb 'meticulously' to modify the action verb 'scrutinized', and correctly modifies the Latin comparative adjective 'superior' with the degree adverb 'far' followed by the preposition 'to'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the introductory participial phrase for proper modifier alignment.
The participial phrase 'Having scrutinized...' describes an action. The main clause subject immediately following it must be the agent performing the action ('the chief analyst').
Placing 'the new accounting framework' as the main subject creates a dangling modifier since a framework cannot scrutinize audit reports.
2
Determine the correct word class for modifying the verb 'scrutinized'.
The action verb 'scrutinized' requires the adverb 'meticulously', not the adjective form 'meticulous'.
Adverbs modify verbs, whereas adjectives modify nouns or pronouns.
3
Analyze the modifier and preposition required for Latin comparative adjectives like 'superior'.
Latin comparatives (superior, inferior, prior, senior) take the preposition 'to' (not 'than') and cannot be combined with 'more' (double comparative) or 'very'. They are intensified using degree adverbs such as 'far' or 'much'.
'Far superior to' is the only grammatically sound construction among the choices.

Key Concept

Adjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers
Question 377Question

Complete the sentence below by supplying the grammatically correct form of the verb in parentheses.

Fill in the blanks below

During the emergency council meeting, the chairman insisted that the treasurer (submit) the audited financial statements without further delay.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

submit
The main verb 'insisted' is a verb of demand followed by a 'that'-clause, triggering the mandative subjunctive mood. In English, the mandative subjunctive requires the uninflected base form of the verb ('submit'), regardless of the singular subject ('the treasurer') or the past tense matrix verb.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the matrix verb and clause structure in the sentence stem.
The main verb 'insisted' introduces a subordinate noun clause expressing a formal demand ('insisted that...').
Verbs expressing demands, requests, recommendations, or insistence mandate the use of the mandative subjunctive mood in dependent 'that'-clauses.
2
Determine the correct verb form for the mandative subjunctive mood.
The mandative subjunctive requires the base form of the verb (uninflected bare infinitive), which is 'submit'.
In subjunctive constructions, the verb retains its bare root form without past tense backshifting ('submitted') or third-person singular inflections ('submits').

Key Concept

Mandative Subjunctive Mood
Question 378Question

In formal English syntax, modifiers must be arranged correctly to maintain precise meaning and grammatical accuracy. Which of the following sentences correctly applies the rules governing adjective ordering, modifier placement, and adverb usage?

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Answer: After reviewing the financial audit, the board members praised the chief executive's stylish old Swiss gold watch, which operated exceptionally well.

Answer

The sentence 'After reviewing the financial audit, the board members praised the chief executive's stylish old Swiss gold watch, which operated exceptionally well.' is grammatically correct.
The sentence featuring 'the board members praised the chief executive's stylish old Swiss gold watch' is correct because: 1) The introductory participial phrase 'After reviewing the financial audit' correctly modifies 'the board members' who did the reviewing. 2) The cumulative adjectives follow the standard Royal Order of Adjectives (Opinion: stylish, Age: old, Origin: Swiss, Material: gold). 3) The adverb phrase 'exceptionally well' appropriately modifies the verb 'operated'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Check modifier placement in the introductory participial clause.
The subject immediately following the introductory clause 'After reviewing the financial audit' must be the logical agent who reviewed the audit ('the board members').
An introductory participial phrase automatically modifies the grammatical subject of the main clause.
2
Verify the standard order of cumulative adjectives.
Adjectives must follow the OSASCOMP sequence: Opinion (stylish) -> Age (old) -> Origin (Swiss) -> Material (gold).
English syntax requires cumulative adjectives preceding a noun to follow a strict semantic order.
3
Verify adverb choice and degree modification.
'Exceptionally' correctly modifies the adverb 'well', which in turn modifies the verb 'operated'.
'Hardly' means barely/scarcely and is inappropriate when expressing diligent operation.

Key Concept

Adjective Order, Modifier Placement, and Adverb Distinction
Question 379Question

Complete the sentence below by supplying the pronoun that maintains strict formal pronoun-antecedent agreement. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence?

Fill in the blanks below

Although several board members initially expressed reservations regarding the restructuring policy, the committee ultimately declared that final decision was unanimous.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

its
The collective noun 'committee' functions as a singular antecedent because the context describes a unified, single action ('unanimous decision'). Under standard formal rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement, a collective noun acting as a single body requires the singular neuter possessive pronoun 'its'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent for the missing pronoun.
The antecedent is the collective noun 'committee'.
The clause states that 'the committee ultimately declared that [pronoun] final decision was unanimous', linking the decision directly to the committee.
2
Determine whether the collective noun acts as a single unified unit or as separate individuals.
The committee acts as a single unified unit.
The modifier 'unanimous' shows that the group is operating with one collective voice rather than taking individual, divergent actions.
3
Select the possessive pronoun that agrees in number and gender with a singular collective noun.
The correct singular, neuter possessive pronoun is 'its'.
Collective nouns acting in unison take singular neuter pronouns ('its') rather than plural pronouns ('their') in formal English.

Key Concept

Collective Noun Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 380Question

Complete the sentence below by selecting the appropriate preposition:

The newly appointed magistrate emphasized that every citizen, regardless of status, must abide _____ the laws of the land.

Which preposition correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: by

Answer

The preposition that correctly completes the sentence is 'by', forming the phrasal verb 'abide by'.
The verb 'abide' when followed by 'by' forms a standard phrasal combination meaning to accept, obey, or conform strictly to a decision, rule, or law.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main verb and sentence context
The main verb is 'abide' and the context requires expressing obedience to legal rules.
Prepositional choices following specific verbs depend on fixed grammatical patterns in English.
2
Select the fixed dependent preposition associated with 'abide' for rule compliance
The standard expression meaning to comply with or conform to rules/laws is 'abide by'.
'Abide by' is the established idiom for observing or upholding laws and decisions.

Key Concept

Dependent Prepositions and Fixed Prepositional Phrases
Estimated Time:45s
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