More than one speaker...present in the meeting.

Appeared in: MNS 2015

Explanation

The phrase "more than one" is a grammatical idiom that is always treated as a singular subject.
According to subject-verb agreement rules, a singular subject requires a singular verb.
The options "are" and "were" are plural verbs and are therefore incorrect.
Between the singular verbs "is" and "was", the past tense "was" is the most appropriate choice as "the meeting" implies a specific event that has already taken place.

Option A: While 'is' is a singular verb, it is in the present tense. The context of describing a meeting usually implies a past event, making the past tense 'was' a better fit.
Option B: 'Were' is a plural verb. The grammatical subject, 'More than one speaker', is treated as singular, so a plural verb creates a subject-verb disagreement.
Option C: 'Are' is a plural verb and does not agree with the singular subject 'More than one speaker'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Subject-Verb Agreement as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a grammar question, strong English skills are crucial for nurses for accurate and professional communication.
Clear documentation in patient charts, incident reports, and handovers prevents misunderstandings and ensures patient safety.
What if the sentence structure was different? If the sentence was 'More than one of the speakers...', the verb would become plural ('were') because the subject of the verb is 'speakers', not 'one'.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the complete subject of the sentence. In this case, it is the phrase 'More than one speaker'.
Recall the specific grammatical rule for the phrase 'more than one'. Recognize that this is an idiomatic expression treated as singular.
Since the subject is singular, eliminate any plural verb options. Here, 'were' and 'are' are plural, so they are incorrect.
Choose between the remaining singular verbs ('is' and 'was') by considering the tense. A sentence about 'the meeting' most commonly refers to a past event.
Select the singular, past-tense verb 'was' as the most logical and grammatically correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full MNS 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.