16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsMediumAgreement with 'a pair of'

Standard English Conventions practice question

A pair of leather gloves ____ left on the bench outside the library.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. wasCorrect
  2. B. were
  3. C. have been
  4. D. are

Answer: A. was

The subject is 'A pair', which is singular; 'of leather gloves' describes it. So: 'A pair ... was left'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. were
'were' agrees with 'gloves', but 'gloves' is inside a prepositional phrase, not the subject.
C. have been
'have been' is plural.
D. are
'are' is plural.

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