Identify the grammatically correct form of the sentence: 'The list of items ___ on the table.'

Identify the grammatically correct form of the sentence: 'The list of items ___ on the table.'

• A. Am
• B. Is
• C. Are
• D. Be

Answer: (B)

Subject-verb agreement hinges on the main noun in a noun phrase. In "The list of items," the head noun is "list," which is singular. The phrase "of items" adds detail but doesn’t change the number of the subject. So the verb must be singular: "is." Therefore, the sentence should read: The list of items is on the table. Using "are" would treat the subject as plural, which it isn’t. This pattern works similarly in other examples, like "The box of chocolates is delicious."

Subject-verb agreement hinges on the main noun in a noun phrase. In "The list of items," the head noun is "list," which is singular. The phrase "of items" adds detail but doesn’t change the number of the subject. So the verb must be singular: "is." Therefore, the sentence should read: The list of items is on the table. Using "are" would treat the subject as plural, which it isn’t. This pattern works similarly in other examples, like "The box of chocolates is delicious."