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Grammatical Structure

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Question 121Question →

Each of the senior research fellows appointed to the environmental science panel _____ expected to present a comprehensive policy document at the upcoming symposium.

Which verb form correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: is

Answer

The singular verb 'is' correctly completes the sentence because the grammatical subject is the singular indefinite pronoun 'Each'.
The sentence requires a singular verb because its true subject is the singular indefinite pronoun 'Each'. The plural phrase 'senior research fellows' is part of an intervening prepositional modifier and does not determine verb agreement. Therefore, the singular present-tense verb 'is' is the only grammatically correct selection.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical subject of the sentence.
The subject head word is the indefinite pronoun 'Each', modified by the prepositional phrase 'of the senior research fellows appointed to the environmental science panel'.
Prepositional phrases following the main pronoun do not alter the number of the subject.
2
Apply the rule of indefinite pronoun concord.
Indefinite pronouns such as 'each', 'everyone', 'nobody', and 'either' are syntactically singular and take singular verbs.
Grammatical agreement depends on the head pronoun, not on intervening plural nouns within modifying phrases.
3
Select the correct present-tense singular verb.
The verb 'is' correctly satisfies singular concord.
'is' is singular, whereas 'are', 'were', and 'have' are plural forms.

Key Concept

Indefinite Pronoun Concord vs. Error of Proximity
Question 122Question →

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with the grammatically appropriate pronoun that maintains correct pronoun-antecedent agreement in standard English.

Fill in the blanks below

Neither of the two newly enacted statutes has lost legal force despite the recent constitutional amendments.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

its
The sentence requires the singular possessive pronoun 'its' to agree with the singular antecedent 'Neither'. Although the prepositional phrase contains the plural noun 'statutes', the head of the noun phrase remains the singular indefinite pronoun 'Neither'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical antecedent of the missing pronoun.
The antecedent is the singular indefinite pronoun 'Neither', not the plural noun 'statutes'.
The phrase 'of the two newly enacted statutes' is a prepositional modifier, and its object cannot serve as the subject or head antecedent of the sentence.
2
Determine the number, person, and gender required for the pronoun.
The pronoun must be third-person singular and neuter because 'Neither' refers here to inanimate entities (statutes).
Indefinite pronouns like 'neither', 'either', and 'each' take singular agreement in formal English.
3
Select the correct possessive form.
The correct possessive form is 'its'.
'its' indicates singular possession without an apostrophe, whereas 'their' is plural and 'it's' is a contraction.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Question 123Question →

Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence below?

"The Chief Executive Officer, together with all the regional division heads who ______ recently appointed by the board, ______ expected to attend the strategic retreat."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: were / is

Answer

The correct option is 'were / is'.
The relative pronoun 'who' introduces a subordinate relative clause that modifies the plural noun phrase 'regional division heads', requiring the plural past-tense verb 'were'. Meanwhile, the principal subject of the main clause is 'The Chief Executive Officer', which remains singular because parenthetical additive expressions such as 'together with...' do not alter the grammatical number of the subject. Thus, the main clause predicate requires the singular verb 'is'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relative clause structure and identify its antecedent.
The relative clause 'who ______ recently appointed by the board' modifies the plural noun phrase 'regional division heads'.
Relative pronouns take the number of their antecedent; since 'heads' is plural, the relative clause requires a plural verb ('were').
2
Identify the primary subject of the main clause and determine its grammatical number.
The main subject is 'The Chief Executive Officer', which is singular.
Prepositional or quasi-conjunction phrases like 'together with all the regional division heads' are additive parenthetical expressions and do not make the subject plural.
3
Select the verb pair that satisfies both clause agreement rules.
The correct verb pair is 'were' for the subordinate relative clause and 'is' for the main clause.
Combining plural agreement for the relative clause and singular agreement for the main clause yields 'were / is'.

Key Concept

Clause structure agreement and subject-verb concord across relative clauses and parenthetical additive phrases
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 124Question →

In the sentence below, which word correctly introduces the subordinate concessive clause?

'________ the lead investigator presented compelling forensic evidence, the jury remained unconvinced of the defendant's guilt.'

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Answer: Although

Answer

Although
The option 'Although' is correct because it is a subordinating conjunction that properly introduces a full subordinate clause equipped with both a subject ('the lead investigator') and a predicate verb ('presented').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the grammatical structure following the blank space
The segment 'the lead investigator presented compelling forensic evidence' contains a explicit subject ('the lead investigator') and a finite verb ('presented'), forming a complete finite subordinate clause.
Determining whether the element following the blank is a clause or a noun phrase dictates whether a subordinating conjunction or a preposition is required.
2
Evaluate the syntactic role required for contrast/concession
A subordinating conjunction of concession is needed to join the subordinate clause to the main clause ('the jury remained unconvinced...').
Prepositions like 'despite', 'in spite of', and 'notwithstanding' take noun phrases or gerunds, whereas 'although' introduces full subordinate clauses.
3
Select the grammatically valid option
'Although' is the only subordinating conjunction among the options that can directly introduce a finite clause.
Using prepositions before a full clause creates a major structural error in English syntax.

Key Concept

Distinction Between Concessive Subordinating Conjunctions and Prepositions
Question 125Question →

Consider the sentence below:

'Not only the principal investigator but also the field assistants ______ required to submit weekly progress reports to the ethics committee.'

Which verb form correctly completes the sentence above?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: are

Answer

The correct answer is the plural present-tense verb 'are'.
When two subjects are joined by correlative conjunctions such as 'not only... but also...', the verb must agree in number with the subject closest to it (the proximity rule). Here, the subject closest to the verb blank is the plural noun phrase 'field assistants', which requires the plural verb 'are'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the conjunction structure connecting the subjects in the sentence.
The subjects are connected by the correlative conjunction pair 'not only... but also...'.
Correlative conjunctions determine which concord rule governs verb selection.
2
Apply the proximity concord rule for correlative conjunctions.
The verb must agree in number and person with the noun phrase closest to the blank, which is 'the field assistants'.
When subjects are linked by 'not only... but also', proximity concord dictates agreement with the nearer subject.
3
Determine the number of the closer subject and select the corresponding verb form.
'Field assistants' is plural, requiring the plural verb 'are'.
Plural noun subjects demand plural verb agreement in standard English grammar.

Key Concept

Proximity Concord with Correlative Conjunctions
Estimated Time:50s
Question 126Question →

Which option correctly completes the sentence below in accordance with the rules of subject-verb concord?

"A detailed summary of the financial audit, along with the receipts for all operational expenses, ______ submitted to the board yesterday."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: was

Answer

The correct verb form is 'was'.
The head noun of the subject is the singular noun 'summary'. The phrase 'along with the receipts for all operational expenses' is a parenthetical prepositional modifier that does not pluralize the subject. Thus, the singular past-tense verb 'was' is required to maintain subject-verb agreement and match the past time adverbial 'yesterday'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true head noun of the subject clause.
The head noun is 'summary', which is singular.
Phrases introduced by quasi-conjunctions such as 'along with', 'together with', or 'as well as' are parenthetical modifiers and do not alter the singular nature of the subject.
2
Determine the required grammatical number and tense for the predicate verb.
The singular head noun requires a singular verb, and the time marker 'yesterday' indicates the simple past tense.
A singular subject must take a singular verb regardless of intervening plural nouns.
3
Select the option matching singular number and past tense.
'was' is the only option that satisfies both singular agreement and past tense.
'were', 'have been', and 'are' are all plural verb forms.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Concord with Intervening Parenthetical Expressions
Question 127Question →

The editorial board, along with the senior investigative reporters, published _____ comprehensive report on the municipal financial crisis. Which of the following pronouns correctly completes the sentence in standard formal English?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its

Answer

its
The head noun of the subject clause is the singular collective noun 'editorial board'. Intervening phrases introduced by 'along with' do not make a singular subject plural. Therefore, the singular possessive pronoun 'its' is required for correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical antecedent of the pronoun slot.
The subject head noun is 'The editorial board', which is a singular collective noun.
Phrases introduced by quasi-conjunctions like 'along with', 'as well as', or 'together with' are parenthetical and do not alter the grammatical number of the main subject.
2
Determine the required number and gender for the pronoun.
A third-person singular neuter possessive pronoun ('its') is required.
The entity is acting as a single unified organization.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Parenthetical Expressions
Question 128Question →

Which of the options correctly completes the sentence below?

"Many a candidate ________ unable to satisfy the rigorous criteria established by the board during the recent accreditation exercise."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: was

Answer

The correct option is 'was' because the expression 'many a' is grammatically singular and requires a singular verb.
The expression 'many a' is followed by a singular noun ('candidate') and requires a singular verb. The past-tense singular verb 'was' correctly satisfies subject-verb agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head subject structure in the sentence.
The subject is 'Many a candidate'.
Determining the exact subject structure is essential for applying subject-verb agreement rules.
2
Apply the rule of grammatical concord for the fixed expression 'many a'.
Although 'many a' carries a plural concept in meaning, syntactically it takes a singular countable noun and must agree with a singular verb.
Grammatical concord in formal English prioritizes syntactic structure over semantic plurality for 'many a'.
3
Select the correct singular verb matching the past context of 'during the recent accreditation exercise'.
The singular past verb 'was' correctly completes the sentence.
The sentence references a completed past exercise, making the singular past auxiliary verb 'was' appropriate.

Key Concept

Concord with 'Many a'
Question 129Question →

Every one of the senior delegates who attended the international summit _______ required to submit an official statement to the secretariat. Which verb form correctly fills the blank?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: was

Answer

The correct option is 'was' because the singular indefinite pronoun 'Every one' serves as the simple subject of the sentence, requiring a singular verb form.
The sentence structure features the indefinite pronoun expression 'Every one of...', where 'Every one' is the true head subject and is grammatically singular. The intervening prepositional phrase 'of the senior delegates' and the relative clause 'who attended the international summit' do not alter the singular nature of the head subject. Therefore, the singular auxiliary verb 'was' is required to establish proper subject-verb concord.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head subject of the main clause
The main subject is 'Every one', not the noun phrase 'senior delegates' inside the prepositional modifier.
Prepositional phrases ('of the senior delegates') and relative clauses ('who attended the international summit') modify the subject but do not change its grammatical number.
2
Determine the grammatical number of the head subject
'Every one' is a singular indefinite pronoun construction.
Indefinite pronouns starting with 'every' (such as 'every one', 'everyone', 'everybody') are syntactically singular in standard English.
3
Select the verb form that satisfies singular concord
'was' is the correct singular past-tense verb.
The singular verb 'was' agrees grammatically with the singular subject 'Every one'.

Key Concept

Indefinite Pronoun Concord vs. Proximity Attraction
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 130Question →

Dr. Adeleke is one of those dedicated surgeons who sacrifice ________ personal time for community outreach programmes. Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence in standard English?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: their

Answer

The correct pronoun is 'their'.
In sentences structured as 'one of those [plural noun] who...', the relative pronoun refers to the plural noun ('surgeons'), not 'one'. Therefore, the plural possessive determiner 'their' is required to maintain proper pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the relative pronoun 'who'.
In the construction 'one of those dedicated surgeons who...', the relative pronoun 'who' refers back to the plural noun 'surgeons', not to the singular subject 'one'.
Relative clauses following 'one of those [plural noun]' modify the plural noun.
2
Determine the required pronoun agreement for the plural antecedent.
Since 'surgeons' is plural, the possessive pronoun inside the relative clause modifying 'personal time' must also be plural.
A pronoun must match its antecedent in number and person.
3
Select the appropriate grammatical form.
The possessive determiner 'their' fits grammatically before 'personal time'.
'Their' is the third-person plural possessive determiner corresponding to 'surgeons'.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement in 'One of those... who' constructions
Question 131Question →

During the parliamentary inquiry, the committee chairman demanded that the minister of finance ______ a detailed breakdown of the emergency relief fund. Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: present

Answer

present
The correct answer uses the bare infinitive 'present' because verbs expressing commands, such as 'demanded that', govern subjunctive clauses that strictly require the uninflected base form of the verb regardless of subject or main clause tense.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main clause verb and subordinate clause structure.
The main verb 'demanded' expresses a command/request and introduces a 'that'-clause.
Mandative verbs such as 'demand', 'insist', 'require', and 'recommend' mandate the use of the subjunctive mood in dependent clauses.
2
Select the verb form appropriate for the mandative subjunctive.
The uninflected base verb 'present' is required regardless of subject person, number, or main clause tense.
The mandative subjunctive does not take tense inflection (like 'presented') or third-person agreement markers (like 'presents').

Key Concept

Mandative Subjunctive Mood
Question 132Question →

Neither the principal investigator nor the research assistants _______ satisfied with the preliminary laboratory results from the trials conducted last week. Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the clause structure?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: were

Answer

The correct option is the plural past-tense verb 'were'.
When subjects are connected by the correlative conjunction pair 'neither... nor', the verb must agree in number with the subject closest to it. Here, the noun phrase closest to the blank is 'the research assistants', which is plural. Combined with the past temporal indicator 'last week', the correct plural past-tense verb is required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the conjunction structure and subjects.
The sentence uses the correlative conjunction pair 'neither... nor' connecting two noun phrases: 'the principal investigator' (singular) and 'the research assistants' (plural).
Correlative conjunctions connecting subjects require specific proximity concord rules.
2
Apply the rule of proximity concord for 'neither... nor'.
The verb must agree with the noun phrase closest to it, which is the plural noun phrase 'the research assistants'.
When subjects are joined by 'neither... nor', the verb takes the number of the closest subject.
3
Determine the correct tense based on sentence context.
The temporal marker 'last week' indicates a completed past event, selecting 'were' rather than present-tense forms.
Verb tense must align with temporal context markers.

Key Concept

Correlative Conjunctions and Proximity Concord
Question 133Question →

Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence below to maintain proper grammatical agreement between the pronoun and its antecedent?

'Every female candidate who completed the rigorous entrance examination was instructed to submit _______ credentials to the administrative officer.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: her

Answer

The possessive pronoun 'her' is correct because the antecedent 'female candidate' is singular.
The word 'Every' modifies the noun phrase 'female candidate', making the grammatical antecedent singular. Because the candidate is explicitly identified as female, the singular possessive pronoun 'her' properly agrees with the antecedent in number, gender, and case.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent and its grammatical number and gender.
The subject noun phrase is 'Every female candidate'. The modifier 'Every' specifies a singular antecedent, and 'female' establishes the feminine gender.
Indefinite pronouns or nouns modified by 'every' take singular pronoun references.
2
Determine the required case of the pronoun for the blank slot.
The blank modifies the noun 'credentials', necessitating a possessive determinative pronoun.
A noun headword following a pronoun slot requires a possessive modifier rather than an objective or independent possessive form.
3
Select the pronoun form that matches in number, gender, and case.
The singular, feminine, possessive determinative pronoun is 'her'.
Matching gender (female), number (singular), and case (possessive) satisfies grammatical agreement rules in formal standard English.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Singular Indefinite Modifiers
Question 134Question →

Which of the following sentences correctly expresses a concessive relationship between clauses without structural redundancy or conjunction misuse?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Although the newly appointed director implemented strict austerity measures, the company's financial deficit continued to widen.

Answer

The sentence reading 'Although the newly appointed director implemented strict austerity measures, the company's financial deficit continued to widen.'
The sentence starting with 'Although' and continuing directly to the main clause without inserting 'but' or 'yet' correctly joins the subordinate concessive clause to the main clause.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause relationship and required conjunction type.
The two clauses express a concession (a contrast between an action and an unexpected outcome).
Concessive relationships require subordinating conjunctions such as 'Although' or 'Even though'.
2
Check for redundant conjunction pairing.
When a subordinate clause begins with 'Although' or 'Even though', no coordinating conjunction ('but', 'yet') should introduce the main clause.
A single complex sentence requires only one connective to link a subordinate clause to a main clause.
3
Verify preposition vs conjunction usage.
'Despite' functions as a preposition and requires a noun phrase (e.g., 'Despite the strict austerity measures...'), whereas 'Although' introduces a subject-verb clause.
Prepositions cannot directly introduce finite clauses.

Key Concept

Concessive Clause Structure and Avoidance of Redundant Conjunctions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 135Question →

Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence below?

'Neither the project manager nor the site engineers ________ aware that each of the new infrastructural policies ________ currently being reviewed by the board.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: are / is

Answer

are / is
The option 'are / is' is correct because the first blank requires the plural verb 'are' to agree with the nearest subject ('site engineers') under the principle of proximity concord in correlative structures ('neither... nor'). The second blank requires the singular verb 'is' because the head subject of the subordinate clause is the singular indefinite pronoun 'each', which is not altered by the intervening plural prepositional phrase 'of the new infrastructural policies'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the first clause containing correlated subjects connected by 'neither... nor'.
Apply the rule of proximity concord, which mandates that the verb must agree in number with the subject nearest to it ('site engineers').
Since 'site engineers' is plural, the required verb for the first blank is 'are'.
2
Analyze the subordinate clause starting with 'that each of the new infrastructural policies...'.
Identify the head subject as the indefinite pronoun 'each' rather than the plural noun 'policies' inside the prepositional phrase.
The indefinite pronoun 'each' is grammatically singular and takes a singular verb, making 'is' the correct verb for the second blank.
3
Combine the results from both clause analyses.
The correct pair of verbs is 'are / is'.
This combination satisfies both proximity concord and indefinite pronoun concord rules simultaneously.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Concord with Correlated Subjects and Indefinite Pronouns
Question 136Question →

In the sentence, 'The newly appointed director gave the dedicated staff some valuable advice,' what is the grammatical function of the noun phrase 'some valuable advice'?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Direct object

Answer

Direct object
In the clause structure 'subject + verb + indirect object + direct object', the noun phrase 'some valuable advice' answers the question 'gave what?' and thus functions as the direct object of the verb 'gave'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the verb and its clause structure.
The sentence contains the ditransitive verb 'gave', which takes two object positions: a recipient and an entity transferred.
Understanding the verb type determines what noun phrase functions are present in the predicate.
2
Analyze the roles of the post-verbal noun phrases.
'The dedicated staff' is the indirect object (to whom advice was given), while 'some valuable advice' is the direct object (what was given).
The direct object undergoes or represents the primary entity affected by the action of giving.

Key Concept

Grammatical Functions of Noun Phrases (Direct Object in Ditransitive Structures)
Question 137Question →

What is the grammatically correct verb form to fill the gap in the sentence below?

"By the time the accident investigation committee submitted its final report, the lead forensic technician ______ the flight recorder data for over three weeks."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: had been analyzing

Answer

The correct option is 'had been analyzing', which accurately uses the past perfect continuous tense.
The verb form 'had been analyzing' is correct because it uses the past perfect continuous tense. When an action occurs over a period of time before a specific event in the past (marked by 'submitted'), the past perfect continuous aspect is required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the time markers and clause relationships in the sentence.
The main time marker 'By the time...' introduces a completed past action ('submitted its final report').
Establishing the temporal baseline is essential to choosing the correct tense and aspect.
2
Determine the aspect required by the temporal expression 'for over three weeks'.
The phrase 'for over three weeks' emphasizes continuous duration leading up to that past event.
An action completed or ongoing prior to a past reference point requires the past perfect aspect.
3
Select the verb form that combines past perfect tense with continuous aspect.
'had been analyzing' correctly fulfills both requirements.
It maintains proper sequence of tenses across past time frames.

Key Concept

Past Perfect Continuous Tense and Sequence of Tenses
Question 138Question →

Neither of the two foreign investors who inspected the factory site _______ satisfied with the proposed environmental compliance report. Which word correctly fills the blank to maintain proper subject-verb agreement?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: was

Answer

The singular verb 'was' is the correct choice because the head of the subject is the indefinite pronoun 'Neither', which requires a singular verb.
The sentence requires the singular past-tense verb 'was' because the subject head is the indefinite pronoun 'Neither'. Distributive indefinite pronouns such as 'neither' and 'either' take singular verb forms in standard formal English regardless of plural nouns inside modifying prepositional phrases.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical head of the subject phrase
The head of the subject is the indefinite pronoun 'Neither', not the intervening prepositional phrase 'of the two foreign investors'.
In English formal concord, prepositional phrases modifying a head noun or pronoun do not alter the number of the subject head.
2
Apply the subject-verb agreement rule for distributive indefinite pronouns
'Neither' refers to 'not one nor the other' of two entities and takes a singular verb.
Standard grammatical concord dictates that singular indefinite pronouns like 'neither', 'either', and 'each' require singular verbs.
3
Select the correct singular past-tense verb form from the options
'was' is singular and past tense, matching the completed action context of the sentence.
'was' satisfies both the singular number requirement of 'Neither' and the past context of 'inspected'.

Key Concept

Indefinite Pronoun Concord (Neither)
Question 139Question →

Consider the following sentence:

'Neither the Senior Advocate of Nigeria nor his defense attorneys _______ convinced by the prosecution's closing arguments.'

Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: were

Answer

The correct option is 'were' because in sentences using correlated conjunctions such as 'neither...nor', the verb must agree in person and number with the subject closest to it ('defense attorneys').
When subjects are joined by correlated conjunctions like 'neither...nor', grammatical concord mandates the rule of proximity: the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun nearest to it. Since 'defense attorneys' is plural and positioned immediately before the verb slot, the past tense plural verb 'were' is grammatically correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the structure of the subject in the clause.
The subject consists of two elements connected by the correlated conjunction 'neither...nor': 'the Senior Advocate of Nigeria' (singular) and 'his defense attorneys' (plural).
Correlated conjunctions follow specific agreement rules based on proximity.
2
Apply the rule of proximity concord.
The noun closest to the verb blank is 'defense attorneys', which is plural.
When subjects of different numbers are joined by 'neither...nor', the verb must agree with the nearer subject.
3
Select the verb form that matches the plural subject in past tense context.
The plural past tense verb 'were' is required.
'were' agrees with plural 'attorneys' and maintains the past narrative tense of the sentence.

Key Concept

Proximity Concord with Correlated Conjunctions (Neither...Nor)
Question 140Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct form of the verb that satisfies the rule of grammatical concord.

Fill in the blanks below

A comprehensive series of workshops on modern agricultural techniques organized by the ministry last month.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct verb form to complete the sentence is 'was'.
The subject head is the singular noun 'series', which mandates the singular past tense verb 'was'. The intervening plural noun 'workshops' belongs to an intervening prepositional phrase and does not alter the singular agreement of the main subject.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head noun of the grammatical subject phrase.
The true grammatical head is the singular noun 'series', modified by the prepositional phrase 'of workshops on modern agricultural techniques'.
In formal English concord, singular head nouns such as 'series', 'chain', or 'repertoire' govern singular verbs regardless of plural nouns inside post-modifying prepositional phrases.
2
Determine the appropriate tense and grammatical number.
The past time indicator 'last month' requires a past-tense singular auxiliary verb, which is 'was'.
The verb must agree in number (singular) with the subject head 'series' and in tense (past) with the temporal adverbial 'last month'.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Collective Head Nouns
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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