16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasySubject-verb agreement with 'each'

Standard English Conventions practice question

Each of the twelve lanterns along the harbour wall ____ lit by hand every evening.

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

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

Answer: A. is

'Each' is singular, so the verb is 'is'; 'of the twelve lanterns' doesn't change the subject.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. are
'Are' agrees with 'lanterns', not with the subject 'each'.
C. were
'Were' is plural and past; the sentence is present.
D. have been
'Have been' is plural.

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