Digital SATReading and Writing: Standard English ConventionsMedium
A historian studying ancient civilizations recently unearthed a collection of artifacts, the significance of which ______ yet to be fully understood.
- Awere
- Bare
- Chave been
- Dis
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. is
The subject of the clause 'the significance of which ______ yet to be fully understood' is 'significance,' which is singular. Therefore, the singular verb 'is' is required.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This past tense plural verb does not agree with the singular subject 'significance' and is the wrong tense.
- B. This plural verb does not agree with the singular subject 'significance'.
- C. This plural perfect tense verb does not agree with the singular subject 'significance'.
Agreement with 'of which'
When a clause begins with 'of which,' the verb must agree with the noun that immediately precedes 'of which' or is the subject of that relative clause.
- Identify the noun that 'of which' refers to.
- This noun is often the subject of the 'of which' clause.
- The verb must agree with this identified noun in number.
Memory trick: 'Of which' points back, so look to the noun track!