Error Spotting - Subject Verb — Set 12
Questions 111–120 of 160
Every country and every state have unique laws and regulations.
Correct Answer: C. have unique
When subjects are connected by 'and' with 'every', the subject is singular. The verb should be 'has', not 'have'. The correct sentence is: 'Every country and every state has unique laws and regulations.'
What is the reason that the students were late?
Correct Answer: D. No Error
The correct answer is 'No Error'. This sentence is correct. 'Students' is plural and requires 'were'. The structure properly demonstrates subject-verb agreement.
Neither of the explanations satisfies all the requirements completely.
Correct Answer: D. No Error
The correct answer is 'No Error'. This sentence is correct. 'Neither' is singular and requires 'satisfies'. The construction properly demonstrates subject-verb agreement with the indefinite pronoun.
Either the first option or the second option are acceptable.
Correct Answer: C. are acceptable
With 'either.or', the verb agrees with the nearest subject 'option' (singular), so the verb should be 'is'. The correct sentence is: 'Either the first option or the second option is acceptable.'
The majority of the population are dissatisfied with the current leadership.
Correct Answer: C. are dissatisfied
When 'majority' refers to people as a group (can act individually), some usage allows 'are'. However, 'majority' as a collective noun traditionally takes 'is'. The safer, standard answer is: 'The majority of the population is dissatisfied with the current leadership.'
There are thousands of websites that offer useful information online.
Correct Answer: D. No Error
The correct answer is 'No Error'. This sentence is correct. 'Websites' is plural and requires 'are'. The relative pronoun 'that' refers to the plural 'websites' and requires 'offer'. The entire structure is grammatically sound.
Neither my sister nor my brother want to go to the party.
Correct Answer: C. want to go
By the neither/nor proximity rule, the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Here 'brother' is the nearest subject and it is singular, so the verb must be the singular form 'wants', not the plural 'want'. Option C ('want to go') contains the error. The correct sentence is: 'Neither my sister nor my brother wants to go to the party.'
The band have not performed their new songs yet.
Correct Answer: B. have not
'Band' is singular and requires 'has', not 'have'. The correct sentence should be: 'The band has not performed their new songs yet.' Although 'their' is used, the verb must be singular.
Each person and object in the room was examined carefully.
Correct Answer: D. No Error
The correct answer is 'No Error'. This sentence is correct. When subjects are connected by 'and' with 'each', the entire subject is treated as singular. 'Was examined' is the correct singular past-tense form, and the sentence 'Each person and object in the room was examined carefully' is grammatically sound.
What are the conditions that is required for acceptance?
Correct Answer: C. is required
The relative pronoun 'that' refers to 'conditions', which is plural, so the verb should be 'are', not 'is'. The correct sentence is: 'What are the conditions that are required for acceptance?'