Fill in the blank with appropriate verb.

The teacher as well as the students _______________ responsible for the agitation in the school campus.

1. A

   are

2. B

   is

3. C

   shall

4. D

   were

Appeared in: OSSSC Nursing Officer-2021

Explanation

• The core grammatical rule is that when two subjects are joined by a phrase like 'as well as', the verb must agree with the first subject.
• In this sentence, the first subject is 'The teacher', which is singular.
• The second subject, 'the students' (plural), is part of an intervening phrase and does not determine the verb form.
• Therefore, a singular verb is required to match the singular subject 'The teacher'.
• The verb 'is' is the singular present tense form that correctly completes the sentence.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: 'are' is a plural verb. It incorrectly agrees with the second subject ('students') instead of the first subject ('teacher').
• Option C: 'shall' is a modal verb that indicates future tense or a strong obligation. It does not fit the context of describing a current state of responsibility.
• Option D: 'were' is a plural past tense verb. It is incorrect for two reasons: the subject is singular ('The teacher'), and the sentence implies a present, ongoing situation.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Subject-verb agreement with intervening phrases as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• While this is a grammar question, clear and precise communication is a critical skill in nursing. Grammatical errors in charting, patient instructions, or professional correspondence can lead to misinterpretation and potential patient safety issues.
• Mastery of grammar ensures that a nurse's written documentation is professional, unambiguous, and credible.
• What if the connecting phrase was 'or'? The sentence would be 'The teacher or the students are responsible...'. In this case, the rule of proximity applies, and the verb ('are') would agree with the closer subject ('students').

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the subjects in the sentence. Here, they are 'The teacher' and 'the students'.
• Next, locate the phrase that connects these subjects. In this case, it is 'as well as'.
• Recall the specific grammatical rule for 'as well as': the verb must agree with the first subject, not the one closest to it.
• Determine if the first subject, 'The teacher', is singular or plural. It is singular.
• Scan the options for a singular verb that fits the present tense context of the sentence.
• Eliminate the plural verbs ('are', 'were') and the modal verb ('shall') that does not fit the context, leaving 'is' as the only correct choice.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Subject-verb agreement with intervening phrases
• Stem keywords: teacher, students, as well as, responsible
• Lead-in keywords: Fill in the blank

Question ID

QJkKaTAvsqTxZQgy2D65Xz

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