choose the correct option
Correct answer: D. Either the obtuse quack or the camel-men were stupid.
- A. Either the obtuse quack or the camel-men is stupid.
- B. Either the obtuse quack or the camel-men has stupidity.
- C. Either the obtuse quack or the camel-men was stupid.
- D. Either the obtuse quack or the camel-men were stupid.
Explanation
The correct answer is Option D: 'Either the obtuse quack or the camel-men were stupid.' In this sentence, the subject is a compound subject connected by 'or', and the verb must agree with the nearest noun, which is 'camel-men' (plural). Therefore, the verb 'were' is appropriate as it matches the plural noun. Option A is incorrect because 'is stupid' does not agree with 'camel-men'. Option B is incorrect as 'has stupidity' is not a suitable expression and also does not agree with 'camel-men'. Option C is incorrect since 'was stupid' only agrees with 'quack' (singular) and not 'camel-men' (plural). Thus, Option D is the only choice that maintains proper subject-verb agreement.
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About Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement requires the verb to match the true subject in number and person, even when other words intervene. Questions cover collective nouns, compound subjects, indefinite pronouns, either and neither, relative clauses, quantities and inverted sentences, where proximity can falsely suggest the wrong verb.
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Subtags: Basic Rules and Concepts, Subject-Verb Agreement with Quantifiers and Phrases