GED Reasoning Through Language ArtsLanguage Conventions and UsageMedium
A journalist is writing an article about a recent election. Which sentence correctly uses subject-verb agreement?
- ABoth the mayor and the council members supports the initiative.
- BNeither the candidate nor her advisors was prepared for the backlash.
- CThe committee of local residents were debating the new proposal.
- DA series of public forums was held to discuss the issues.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. A series of public forums was held to discuss the issues.
The subject of the sentence in option D is 'series' (singular), which correctly takes the singular verb 'was held.' In option A, with 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the closer subject ('advisors' is plural, so 'were' is needed). In option B, 'committee' is a collective noun acting as a single unit, so 'was' is needed. In option C, 'Both...and' creates a plural subject, so 'support' (plural verb) is needed.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect; 'Both the mayor and the council members' is a plural subject, so the verb should be 'support'.
- B. Incorrect; 'advisors' is plural, so the verb should be 'were' (agreeing with the closer subject).
- C. Incorrect; 'committee' acts as a single unit, so the verb should be 'was'.
Subject-Verb Agreement
The verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
- Identify the true subject of the sentence, ignoring intervening phrases.
- Watch out for collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and compound subjects.
- Verbs ending in 's' are usually singular in the present tense (e.g., 'he runs').
Memory trick: Subject and verb must match in their count, no matter the amount.