Lesson Introduction
Part 1
Identifying the Subject and the Verb in a Sentence
The verb's singular or plural form is determined by the subject. Each sentence contains one specific subject. By identifying the subject and the corresponding verb in a sentence, you can accurately determine whether to use the singular or plural form of the verb.
What is a finite verb? A finite verb is a verb that is in agreement
with its subject and expresses a tense. There can only be one specific
subject and one finite verb in a sentence. The finite verb is also
referred to as the main verb. For example:
My wife wants to go shopping.
👉 The verb in this sentence is “wants.” Because the subject is
singular “My wife,” the verb uses the singular form “wants”.
I want a job that can help me grow.
👉 The verb in this sentence is “want”, the subject is "I", and “help” is the verb in the adjective clause “that can help me grow”, not the finite verb of this sentence.
The man sitting next to me looks familiar.
👉 The verb in this sentence is “look”, “sitting next to me” is a
participle sentence, and “sitting” is not a finite verb in this
sentence.
I was surprised to hear the news.
👉 The verb in this sentence is “was”, and the infinitive “to hear”
plays the role of an adverb and is placed after “surprised”.
I saw him going out with his ex.
👉 The verb in this sentence is “saw”, and “go out” is a non-finite verb.
The marketing proposal regarding tapping into the new overseas marke t is unanimously approved.
👉 "regarding tapping into the new overseas market" is an adjective phrase describing the subject “the marketing proposal”, the subject “the marketing proposal” is singular, so the singular verb “is” is used to agree with it.
The discrepancy between demand and supply for the workforce and affordable housing is enormous at all times.
👉 The phrase "between demand and supply for the workforce and affordable housing" is an adjective phrase describing the subject “the discrepancy”, the subject “the discrepancy” is singular, so the singular verb “is” is used to agree with it.
Most of the job applicants who are suitable for the managerial position have experience working at an overseas branch.
👉 "who are suitable for the managerial position" is an adjective clause describing the subject “Most of the job applicants”, the subject “Most of the job applicants” is plural, so the plural verb “have” is used to agree with it.
Example: Furniture that was stored at the storage room ____ to the conference hall for the upcoming annual conference.
(A) have relocated
(B) has been relocated
(C) has relocated
(D) relocated
The correct answer is (B) has been relocated.
In this sentence, the subject is "furniture", which is a singular noun. so, it requires a singular verb for agreement. In this case, the action (relocating) is not done by the furniture itself, but rather, it is done to the furniture by someone else. Hence, we need a passive verb form. The present perfect passive form is "has been relocated", which shows that the action started in the past and has an effect on the present situation.
(A) "have relocated" is incorrect because "have" is the
plural form, which does not agree with the singular subject
"furniture". Besides, "relocated" in this form is active,
which means the subject itself did the action, which is not
true in this context.
(C) "has relocated" is also incorrect because it is an
active form. This would mean that the furniture moved by
itself, which is not logical.
(D) "relocated" is a simple past tense verb. While
this form agrees with the singular subject, it is incorrect
because it implies that the action is completely done and
has no connection to the present, which does not fit the
context of the sentence.
Example： The regulations listed
on the first page of the employee handbook ____ the code of conduct
employees are expected to adhere to.
(A) describing
(B) is describing
(C) describes
(D) describe
The correct answer is (D) describe.
The subject of the sentence here is 'regulations,' which is a plural noun. According to the subject-verb agreement rule, plural subjects require plural verbs. Hence, 'describe' is appropriate here as it is the plural form of the verb 'describes'.
(A) “describing” - This is incorrect because it is a gerund
(verb acting as a noun) or participle (verb acting as an
adjective), not a simple verb that can agree with the
subject 'regulations'.
(B) “is describing” - This choice uses the singular form of
the verb 'to be' (is) with the present participle
'describing'. However, 'is' contradicts the plural subject
'regulations'. Hence, 'are describing' would have been
correct.
(C) “describes” - This is the singular form of the verb
'describe', which does not align with the plural subject
'regulations'. Hence, this choice is incorrect.
Example: Details regarding the
upcoming seminar ____ to all attendees.
(A) e-mail
(B) e-mails
(C) was emailed
(D) were emailed
The correct answer is (D) were emailed.
According to the subject-verb agreement rule, the verb in a sentence should agree in number with the subject. In this sentence, the subject is 'Details' which is a plural noun. so, the verb must also be plural. 'Were emailed' is the plural past tense form of the verb 'to email,' so it matches the plural subject 'Details,' making (D) the correct answer.
(A) “e-mail” is incorrect because it is a singular noun, not
a verb. The sentence requires a plural verb to agree with
the plural subject 'Details.'
(B) “e-mails” is also incorrect because it is a plural noun,
not a verb. While it matches 'Details' in number, it cannot
function as a verb in this sentence.
(C) “was emailed” is incorrect because 'was emailed' is the
singular past tense form of the verb 'to email.' It does not
agree in number with the plural subject 'Details'.
▶️ When a gerund or an infinitive is the subject, the verb is
considered singular
Making regular donations to local charities
provides tax advantages.
Outsourcing manufacturing to overseas companies allows companies to save on operational costs and take advantage of lower
labor and production costs overseas.
To host a clearance sale is a common way for a
retailer to sell off stock that is out of season.
▶️ A, along with B (A is B) + subject A corresponding verb
California, along with Florida
and Hawaii,
is among
the most popular US tourist destinations.
▶️ Both A and B + plural verb
Both Helen and her boss
agree to
give each worker 20 days off a year.
Both the cafeteria and the
library
have internet access.
I went to both the bakery
and the butcher shop.
▶️ Either A or B + the verb corresponding to the subject B
Either my uncle
or my grandparents
are coming.
Either the cafeteria
or the library
has internet access.
We will meet up on either Monday
or Tuesday.
▶️Neither A nor B (A, B neither) + subject B corresponding
verb
Neither the swimming pool
nor the gym
is open
on Sundays.
Neither the bread
nor the cakes
are ready
yet.
▶️ Not only A but also B… (Not only A…but also B… ) = B and A +
subject B corresponding verb
Not only Ken's parents
but also Ken
likes to
swim on weekends. = Ken, and his
parents,
likes to
swim on weekends.
The scheme is designed to strengthen domestic demand
and create more job opportunities.
The inspectors
and
I
were surprised at the horrible scene at that time.
Example: The lawyer, along with
his legal assistants, _____ a special report for the hearing.
(A) are working on
(B) working on
(C) have been working on
(D) is working on
The correct answer is (D) is working on.
In the sentence, "The lawyer, along with his legal assistants, _____ a special report for the hearing," the subject is "The lawyer." The phrase "along with his legal assistants" is a prepositional phrase—it gives additional information about the subject but does not change the fact that the subject is singular. so, the verb must be singular to agree with the singular subject, and "is working on" is the correct singular form.
(A) "are working on" is incorrect because "are" is the
plural form of the verb. This would be correct if the
subject were plural, like "The lawyers."
(B) "working on" is incorrect because it's not a verb form
that can follow the subject directly. In English, the
subject must be followed by a conjugated verb, and "working
on" is not one.
(C) "have been working on" is incorrect because it's the
plural form. It would be correct if the subject were plural,
but in this case, the subject "The lawyer" is singular.
Also, it suggests a continuous action in the past up to the
present, which is not what the sentence is saying. The
sentence is talking about a current, ongoing action.
Example: Neither the secretary
nor the receptionist ____ the phone number of the accountant.
(A) know
(B) is known
(C) are known
(D) knows
The correct answer is (D) knows.
In sentences using 'either/or' or 'neither/nor', the verb should agree with the subject nearer to it. In this case, 'the receptionist' is nearer to the verb and is a singular subject, so the verb should also be singular. Hence, 'knows' is the correct choice.
(A) 'know' is incorrect because it is the plural form of the
verb and does not agree with the singular subject 'the
receptionist'.
(B) 'is known' is incorrect as it changes the meaning
of the sentence, suggesting that the receptionist or
secretary are known or recognized by someone else.
(C) 'are known' is also incorrect because it not only
changes the meaning of the sentence like in option (B), but
'are' is also plural and does not agree with the singular
subject 'the receptionist'.
Reviewing Quantifiers Used with Countable and Uncountable Nouns
In this part, we will look at the quantifiers that precede nouns.
These quantifiers can influence whether the nouns that follow are in
singular or plural form. We previously discussed this in the fourth
lesson "Common adjectives used with plural countable nouns". Those
unfamiliar with the topic may want to review that lesson. Let's
revisit the key points:
▶️ Quantifiers used with
singular countable nouns:
every, each, another, either, neither, the other + singular countable
noun
▶️ Quantifiers used with plural
countable nouns:
other, both, several, few, a few, quite a few, many, a number of +
plural countable noun
▶️ Common quantifiers used with
uncountable nouns:
little, a little, not a little, much, a large/small amount of, a great
deal of, a bit of, quite a bit of + uncountable noun
▶️ Quantifiers can be followed
by plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns:
any (of), all (of), no, enough (of), some (of), most (of),
a (large/small quantity) of, (large/small) quantities of, a lot of,
lots of, plenty of,
a (large/small) percentage of, half of, part of, the rest of + plural
countable and uncountable nouns
If the above quantifier is followed by an uncountable noun, a singular
verb form should be used. However, if it is followed by a countable
noun, a plural verb form should be used. Particular attention should
be paid to the use of phrases such as 'a number of', 'the number of',
'the percentage of', and a 'large/small percentage of'.
A (large/small) number of + plural noun + plural verb
The number of + plural noun + singular verb
A (large/small) percentage of + plural noun + plural verb
The percentage of + plural noun + singular verb
▶️ usage of either, neither, both contemporary nouns, quantifiers, and
linking words
Either of + plural countable noun + singular verb
Neither of / Both of + plural countable noun + plural verb
▶️ Use of either, neither, both as linking words
Either A or B / Neither A nor B The plural of the verb after B
determines whether it is singular or plural in B
Both A and B + plural verb
▶️ Usage of either, neither, and both
Either + singular countable noun + singular verb
Neither + singular countable noun + singular verb
Both + plural countable noun + plural verb
Example: Every employee ____ to consider what his or her prospects are for career advancement and personal growth.
(A) needs
(B) need
(C) have needed
(D) to need
The correct answer is (A) needs.
The subject of the sentence is "every employee," which is a singular noun. In English, a singular subject needs a singular verb to maintain subject-verb agreement. The verb "needs" in option (A) is singular, and so, it fits with the singular subject "every employee".
(B) "need" is incorrect because it is the plural form of the
verb and does not agree with the singular subject "every
employee".
(C) "have needed" is also incorrect. "Have needed" is the
past perfect tense of the verb "need". This tense is used to
describe an action that happened before another past action.
In this sentence, there's no additional past action
mentioned, making this choice incorrect.
(D) "to need" is incorrect because it is an infinitive form
of the verb. Infinitives are typically used with another
verb ("he appears to need help"), as a noun ("to err is
human"), or as an adjective or adverb ("this is the product
to buy"). In this sentence, it doesn't fit any of these
roles, making it an incorrect choice.
Example: The number of workers
being laid off by the company this summer ____ to exceed 100.
(A) are expected
(B) is expected
(C) are expecting
(D) expect
The correct answer is (B) is expected.
The subject of this sentence is "the number of workers", which is singular, so it requires a singular verb to maintain subject-verb agreement. Thus, "is expected" is the appropriate choice.
(A) "are expected" is incorrect because "are" is a plural
verb, which doesn't agree with the singular subject "the
number".
(C) "are expecting" is incorrect for the same reason as (A).
"Are" is a plural verb, which doesn't match with the
singular subject "the number". also, "expecting" implies
that the workers themselves are expecting something, which
changes the meaning of the sentence.
(D) "expect" is incorrect because it is a base form of the
verb, which is not grammatically correct in this context. It
would require a subject like "they" or "we" to function
properly, but the subject here is "the number".
Example: A number of employees
____ to carpool to save money on gasoline and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
(A) have decided
(B) has decided
(C) are decided
(D) is decided
The correct answer is (A) have decided.
The subject of the sentence is "a number of employees." Here, "a number of" is a quantifier expressing an unspecified quantity, followed by a plural noun "employees." When using "a number of" with a plural noun, the verb is also in the plural form. so, "have decided" is the correct option to use as "have" is the plural form of the verb.
(B) "has decided" is incorrect because "has" is a singular
verb form, but the subject in the sentence is plural ("a
number of employees"). so, there's a disagreement between
the subject and the verb.
(C) "are decided" is incorrect because it suggests that the
decision was made by someone else, not the employees
themselves. In this context, it's clear that the employees
made the decision to carpool, so a passive form is
inappropriate.
(D) "is decided" is incorrect for the same reason as (C).
The passive form is not appropriate in this context. also,
"is" is a singular verb form and doesn't match with the
plural subject "a number of employees."
Example: A large amount of
poisoned water ____ at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
(A) were stored
(B) store
(C) was stored
(D) stored
The correct answer is (C) was stored.
The subject of this sentence is 'a large amount of poisoned water', which is considered as a singular subject. In English, a singular subject must be followed by a singular verb. Here, 'was stored' is a singular verb in the past tense, which agrees with the subject. so, (C) is the correct choice.
(A) 'were stored' is incorrect because 'were' is a plural
verb. According to the subject-verb agreement rule, a
singular subject such as 'a large amount of poisoned water'
must be followed by a singular verb, not a plural one.
(B) 'store' is incorrect because it is a present tense verb.
This sentence is clearly referring to a past event, as
indicated by the past tense verb 'stored' in the other
answer choices.
(D) 'stored' is incorrect because it lacks the auxiliary
verb 'was' that is needed to form the past tense passive
voice. In English, the past tense passive voice is formed by
'was/were' + past participle. so, 'stored' alone cannot
function as a verb in this sentence.
This is the final section of the lesson. I'm ready to start the review exercises!
Review Exercise (1/16)
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((D))".
clear Not quite. ((D)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (D) come.
In this sentence, the subject is 'the printer models' which is plural. Therefore, the verb that follows should also be in its plural form to maintain subject-verb agreement. In English, the third-person singular form of a verb often ends in 's,' but the basic form (which is also used for plural subjects) does not. Therefore, 'come' is the correct choice as it is the plural form of the verb 'to come.'
(A) 'comes' is incorrect because it is the third-person singular form of the verb 'to come.' It does not agree with the plural subject 'the printer models.
(B) 'coming' is incorrect because this form of the verb is used to form continuous tenses or as a participle. It's not used for simple present tense in the manner that this sentence requires.
(C) 'have come' is incorrect because this is the present perfect form of the verb 'to come.' The sentence doesn't require this tense; it simply needs the present simple tense.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((B))".
clear Not quite. ((B)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (B) has.
Subject-verb agreement rule states that the verb in a sentence should correspond to the subject in its number. In this particular sentence, the subject is "the number", which is a singular noun, and thus requires the singular form of the verb, "has". Therefore, "The number of entertainment TV shows being targeted at young people has steadily increased" is the correct sentence.
(A) "have" is incorrect because it is a plural form of the verb, which does not match with the singular subject "the number".
(C) "are" is incorrect as it is a plural form of the verb "to be". Although "TV shows" is plural, it's not the subject of the sentence. The subject is "the number" which is singular, thus "are" does not agree with the subject.
(D) "is" is also incorrect. Though it's a singular form of the verb "to be" and could agree with the subject "the number", but the phrase "is steadily increased" is not grammatically correct in this context as it's not the correct form of the verb to use after "is". The verb "increase" should be in the form that shows it has been done to the subject, hence "has increased".
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((D))".
clear Not quite. ((D)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (D) is.
In this sentence, the subject is "an intern" which is singular. Therefore, the verb should also be in the singular form to maintain subject-verb agreement. The singular form of the verb to be is "is", which makes option (D) the correct answer.
(A) 'have' is incorrect because it is the plural form of the verb to have. Also, the verb to be ('is' or 'are') is needed in this sentence to link the subject with the adjective 'likely'.
(B) 'has' is incorrect because it is the singular form of the verb to have. The verb to be ('is' or 'are') is needed in this sentence to link the subject with the adjective 'likely'.
(C) 'are' is incorrect because it is the plural form of the verb to be. Since the subject is singular, it should be 'is', not 'are'.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((A))".
clear Not quite. ((A)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (A) is subject.
In English, the subject-verb agreement rule states that a singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb. In this sentence, the subject "The train schedule" is singular, therefore, it requires a singular verb.
(A) "is subject" is the correct answer as "is" is the singular form of the verb "to be", agreeing with the singular subject "The train schedule".
(B) "are subject" is incorrect as "are" is the plural form of the verb "to be", which does not match the singular subject "The train schedule".
(C) "subject" is incorrect because it lacks a verb. This choice does not provide the necessary action for the sentence.
(D) "subjects" is incorrect for two reasons. First, it is a plural form, which does not match the singular subject "The train schedule". Second, when used as a verb, "subjects" means to cause or force someone or something to undergo a particular experience or effect, which is not the intended meaning in this context.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((B))".
clear Not quite. ((B)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (B) was spent.
The phrase "that was spent on fossil fuels" is an adjective clause. “that" refers to the "amount of capital" which is singular. According to the subject-verb agreement rules, a singular subject should have a singular verb. Therefore, the correct verb form should be "was spent".
(A) "were spent" is incorrect because "were" is a plural verb, which does not agree with the singular subject "amount of capital".
(C) "was spending" is incorrect because it implies an ongoing action, which is not the case in this context. The sentence refers to a completed action, therefore, the past simple tense "was spent" is required.
(D) "were spending" is incorrect because "were" is a plural verb, and "spending" implies an ongoing action. Neither of these match with our singular subject and the context of a completed action.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((A))".
clear Not quite. ((A)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (A) have grown.
In the sentence "Worldwide electric vehicle sales _____ by 7 percent since 2019", the subject is "sales". This is a plural noun, so the verb that follows should also be in the plural form to maintain subject-verb agreement, which is a basic rule in English grammar. In this case, the correct verb form is "have grown".
(B) "has grown" is incorrect because "has" is a singular verb form and does not match the plural subject "sales".
(C) "is grown" is incorrect because "is" is also a singular verb form and it does not match the plural subject "sales". Additionally, "is grown" is in the passive voice, which is not suitable in this context.
(D) "are grown" is incorrect because "are grown" is in the passive voice, which does not fit the context.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((D))".
clear Not quite. ((D)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (D) was devoted.
In this sentence, the subject is 'half of the mayor's speech' which is singular. We need to use a singular verb to agree with this subject. The verb 'was devoted' fits this requirement and is in the passive voice, indicating that the action (devoting) was done to the subject (the speech).
(A) 'devote' is incorrect because it is in the active voice and the present tense, implying the subject (the speech) is currently doing the action (devoting). This is incorrect because the subject is not capable of performing the action.
(B) 'devotes' is incorrect for the same reasons as (A). It is in the active voice, which does not fit with the context of the sentence.
(C) 'were devoted' is incorrect because 'were' is a plural verb. The subject of the sentence 'half of the mayor's speech' is singular, so we need a singular verb to agree with it. Using 'were' would be incorrect according to the subject-verb agreement rule. Also, this option is in the passive voice but the verb does not agree with the singular subject.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((D))".
clear Not quite. ((D)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (D) has increased.
In this sentence, 'the percentage' is the subject and it is singular, so it requires a singular verb. The verb 'increase' in the present perfect tense would be 'has increased' for a singular subject, hence, option (D) is correct.
(A) 'are increased' is incorrect because 'are' is a plural verb and doesn't agree with the singular subject 'the percentage'.
(B) 'is increased' is incorrect because the verb 'increase' is not in the correct form. The present perfect tense 'has increased' is needed to convey an action that happened at an unspecified time before now.
(C) 'have increased' is incorrect because 'have' is used for plural subjects, and 'the percentage' is a singular subject. Thus, 'have increased' violates the subject-verb agreement rule.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((B))".
clear Not quite. ((B)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (B) each.
The reason the phrase "each local branch as well as the headquarters" is considered singular is due to the subject-verb agreement rules in English grammar. When we use "each" in a sentence, it's usually followed by a singular noun and takes a singular verb as it refers to individual items in a group, not the group as a whole.
Therefore, "each local branch" is singular. The phrase "as well as the headquarters" is additional information to the sentence which doesn't affect the subject-verb agreement. The verb should agree with "each local branch," hence we use the singular verb "is."
(A) "All" is incorrect because it is plural, and it would require the verb "are" instead of "is". The sentence would read, "All local branches as well as the headquarters are expected to be renovated starting next month." This would suggest that all branches and the headquarters are being renovated, changing the meaning of the sentence.
(C) "Little" is incorrect because it is an adjective that describes a small amount or degree, and it does not make sense in this context.
(D) "Several" is incorrect because it is plural, and it would require the verb "are" instead of "is". The sentence would read, "Several local branches as well as the headquarters are expected to be renovated starting next month." This would suggest that several branches and the headquarters are being renovated, changing the meaning of the sentence.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((A))".
clear Not quite. ((A)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (A) has been.
The subject of the sentence is 'the initial proposal' which is singular. So, according to the subject-verb agreement rule, the singular form of the verb should be used. As such, 'has been' which is the singular present perfect form of the verb, is the appropriate choice.
(B) 'were' is incorrect because it's the past form of 'be' and it's used for plural subjects. Here, the subject is singular 'the initial proposal'.
(C) 'being' is incorrect because it is the present participle of 'be' and it doesn't fit the tense of the sentence. It's used to form continuous tenses and passive voice, neither of which is applicable here.
(D) 'have been' is incorrect because it's the plural form of the present perfect tense of the verb 'be'. Here, as the subject is singular, the use of plural form of the verb is incorrect according to the subject-verb agreement rule.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((A))".
clear Not quite. ((A)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (A) is.
In English grammar, the subject-verb agreement rule states that the verb must agree in number with the subject. In this case, the subject is "filling vacant positions immediately", which is singular. (In English, when a gerund or an infinitive is the subject, the verb is considered singular) The verb must therefore also be singular to agree with the subject. Thus, "is" is the correct verb to use.
(B) "are" is incorrect because it is a plural verb, and the subject is singular.
(C) "being" is incorrect because it is not used here as a verb, but as a continuous form, which is not suitable for this sentence.
(D) "been" is incorrect because it is a past participle typically used in perfect tenses, not in the present tense as required by the context of the sentence.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((C))".
clear Not quite. ((C)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (C) comply.
In this sentence, the subject is "the building materials." According to the subject-verb agreement rule, subjects and verbs must agree in number. If a subject is plural (like "the building materials"), the verb also needs to be plural. In this case, "comply" is the correct plural form of the verb.
(A) "compliant" is an adjective, not a verb, so it does not agree with the subject "the building materials."
(B) "complies" is a singular verb form, which does not agree with the plural subject "the building materials."
(D) "complying" is a present participle and would need an auxiliary verb (like "are") to complete the verb phrase, which is not provided in the sentence. Therefore, it is incorrect.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((D))".
clear Not quite. ((D)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (D) is.
The subject of the sentence is "each local branch manager". The pronoun "each" refers to individual elements of a group, and it requires a singular verb. Therefore, the verb "is" is singular and agrees with the singular subject.
(A) "have been" is incorrect because it is a plural verb and does not agree with the singular subject "each local branch manager".
(B) "to be" is incorrect because it is an infinitive and doesn't agree with the subject. Infinitives are used to express the purpose or intention, not to show the action performed by the subject.
(C) "are" is incorrect because it is a plural verb and does not agree with the singular subject "each local branch manager".
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((D))".
clear Not quite. ((D)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (D) is.
In this sentence, the subject is "Either French fries or baked potato". According to the subject-verb agreement rules, when two subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer to it. In this case, 'baked potato' is nearer to the verb and it is singular. Therefore, the singular verb 'is' should be used.
(A) "have been" is incorrect because 'have been' is the plural form of the verb 'to be', which does not agree with the singular subject 'baked potato'.
(B) "to be" is incorrect because it is in the infinitive form of the verb 'to be'. In this sentence, we need a verb in the present tense to match the subject 'baked potato'.
(C) "are" is incorrect because 'are' is the plural form of the verb 'to be', which does not agree with the singular subject 'baked potato'.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((D))".
clear Not quite. ((D)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (D) are.
In the sentence, "Both the graphic design and the color scheme of the website ______ appealing to young people," the subject is plural - both "the graphic design" and "the color scheme." In English, when a subject is plural, the verb must also be plural for the sentence to agree in number. The only plural verb in the answer choices is "are," so the correct sentence is "Both the graphic design and the color scheme of the website are appealing to young people."
(A) is incorrect because "is" is a singular verb, and the subject of the sentence is plural.
(B) is incorrect because "to be" is an infinitive form of the verb, which does not agree in number with the subject, which is plural.
(C) is incorrect because "being" is a participle and not a finite verb, so it cannot function as the main verb in a sentence. The sentence needs a main verb that agrees in number with the subject.
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done That's right! Correct answer is "((B))".
clear Not quite. ((B)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (B) ranges.
In the sentence, the subject is "selection", which is a singular noun. Therefore, the verb that follows it also needs to be singular to maintain subject-verb agreement. The verb "ranges" is the singular form of the verb 'range' and correctly matches with the singular subject "selection".
(A) "is ranged" is incorrect because it is in the passive voice, which is not suitable for this context. The sentence needs an active verb to express the action performed by the subject "selection".
(C) "ranging" is incorrect because it is a present participle and can't function as a main verb in the sentence. Here, we need a main verb to express the action of the subject "selection".
(D) "range" is incorrect because it is the plural form of the verb. Since the subject "selection" is singular, the verb also needs to be singular to maintain subject-verb agreement. Therefore, "range" is not an appropriate choice for this sentence.
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