ALCPT Verb Tense and Agreement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the sentence in which the subject and verb agree correctly.
- Neither the captain nor the lieutenants were notified in time. (Correct answer)
- Neither the captain nor the lieutenants was notified in time.
- Neither the captain nor the lieutenants have been notified in time.
- Neither the captain nor the lieutenants notified in time.
Correct answer: Neither the captain nor the lieutenants were notified in time.
With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. 'The lieutenants' (plural) is closest, so the verb must be plural: 'were.'
The rule of proximity applies to 'neither...nor' constructions: the verb agrees with the noun closest to it. Since 'the lieutenants' (plural) is nearest, 'were' (plural) is correct. 'Was' (singular) would be correct only if the singular noun were closest.
Question 2: Select the sentence that correctly uses the past perfect tense.
- By the time the reinforcements arrived, the unit had already secured the perimeter. (Correct answer)
- By the time the reinforcements arrived, the unit already secured the perimeter.
- By the time the reinforcements had arrived, the unit already secured the perimeter.
- By the time the reinforcements arrived, the unit has already secured the perimeter.
Correct answer: By the time the reinforcements arrived, the unit had already secured the perimeter.
The past perfect ('had secured') is used for an action completed before another past action. The perimeter was secured before the reinforcements arrived.
Past perfect (had + past participle) is used to sequence two past events — showing which happened first. The securing happened first (past perfect), then the reinforcements arrived (simple past). Option B omits 'had.' Option C incorrectly uses past perfect for the later event. Option D uses present perfect ('has secured'), which is wrong in past context.
Question 3: Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement involving a collective noun.
- The committee has reached a unanimous decision. (Correct answer)
- The committee have reached a unanimous decision.
- The committee were reached a unanimous decision.
- The committee reaching a unanimous decision.
Correct answer: The committee has reached a unanimous decision.
In American English, collective nouns like 'committee' take singular verbs when acting as a unit. 'Has reached' (singular) is correct.
In American English, collective nouns (committee, team, jury, crew) are treated as singular and take singular verbs when the group acts as a unified whole. 'The committee has reached' is therefore correct. British English may use plural ('have'), but ALCPT follows American conventions.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses a passive voice construction?
- The new regulations were announced by headquarters yesterday. (Correct answer)
- The new regulations announced by headquarters yesterday.
- The new regulations was announced by headquarters yesterday.
- The new regulations have announced by headquarters yesterday.
Correct answer: The new regulations were announced by headquarters yesterday.
Passive voice is formed with 'be + past participle.' 'Were announced' correctly uses the plural 'were' to agree with 'the new regulations' (plural subject).
Passive voice = [be] + [past participle] + [by agent]. 'The new regulations' is plural, so 'were' is required. Option B has no auxiliary verb. Option C uses 'was' (singular), which does not agree with the plural subject. Option D uses 'have announced' (active voice, not passive).
Question 5: Choose the sentence that correctly uses a conditional verb form.
- If the sergeant had reviewed the plan, he would have identified the error. (Correct answer)
- If the sergeant has reviewed the plan, he would have identified the error.
- If the sergeant had reviewed the plan, he will have identified the error.
- If the sergeant reviewed the plan, he would have identified the error.
Correct answer: If the sergeant had reviewed the plan, he would have identified the error.
Type 3 (past unreal) conditionals require 'if + past perfect' in the condition clause and 'would have + past participle' in the result clause.
Type 3 conditionals refer to hypothetical situations in the past. The formula is: 'If + [had + past participle], [would have + past participle].' Option B uses present perfect ('has reviewed') in the if-clause. Option C uses 'will have' in the result clause. Option D uses simple past ('reviewed') in the if-clause, which is Type 2.
Question 6: Select the sentence with correct agreement when the subject is separated from the verb.
- The list of required documents was distributed to all applicants. (Correct answer)
- The list of required documents were distributed to all applicants.
- The list of required documents have been distributed to all applicants.
- The list of required documents are distributed to all applicants.
Correct answer: The list of required documents was distributed to all applicants.
The subject is 'the list' (singular), not 'documents.' A prepositional phrase ('of required documents') does not change the number of the subject.
Prepositional phrases that follow the subject do not affect subject-verb agreement. The subject is 'the list' (singular), so the verb must be singular: 'was distributed.' The phrase 'of required documents' is a modifier, not the subject.
ALCPT Verb Tense and Agreement 2
Choose the sentence in which the subject and verb agree correctly.