16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardPlural 'phenomena'

Standard English Conventions practice question

These ____ have puzzled astronomers for decades.

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

  1. A. phenomenaCorrect
  2. B. phenomenon
  3. C. phenomenas
  4. D. phenomenons

Answer: A. phenomena

'These' and 'have' are plural, so the noun must be plural: 'phenomena', the plural of 'phenomenon'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. phenomenon
'phenomenon' is singular.
C. phenomenas
'phenomenas' adds an -s to a word that is already plural.
D. phenomenons
'phenomenons' is not the standard plural.

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