16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsMediumSubject-verb agreement with an inverted sentence

Standard English Conventions practice question

Behind the old mill ____ the remains of a water wheel and the channel that fed it.

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

  1. A. lieCorrect
  2. B. lies
  3. C. is lying
  4. D. has lain

Answer: A. lie

The subject comes after the verb: 'the remains … and the channel' is plural, so 'lie'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. lies
'Lies' agrees with 'mill', which is the object of 'behind', not the subject.
C. is lying
'Is lying' is singular.
D. has lain
'Has lain' is singular.

More Standard English Conventions questions

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