16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardSubject-verb agreement with a subject separated by a long phrase

Standard English Conventions practice question

The collection of letters, maps, and estate papers that the family deposited in 1950 ____ never been catalogued.

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

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

Answer: A. has

The subject is 'collection', singular; the list and the 'that' clause are describing it.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. have
'Have' agrees with 'papers', not with 'collection'.
C. were
'Were never been' is not a form.
D. are
'Are never been' is not a form.

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