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

Standard English Conventions practice question

Each of the twelve volunteers ____ assigned a stretch of the riverbank to clear.

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

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

Answer: A. was

'Each' is singular; 'of the twelve volunteers' only describes it.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. were
'Were' agrees with 'volunteers', not 'each'.
C. are
'Are' is plural.
D. have been
'Have been' is plural.

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