27/11/2024
JUSTIFICATION FOR QUESTION 86
1. The correct answer to the question is either the option (A) or the option (B). We say or write, ‘The chief, together with his elders, IS (present tense) / WAS (past tense) welcomed to the Durbar festival.’ Unequivocally, options (C) and (D) are not grammatically correct.
2. To begin with, the lexical item ‘chief’ is a singular noun and is the grammatical head of the noun phrase ‘The chief, together with his elders, ....’ It agrees with a singular verb either in the present time or in the past time.
3. Furthermore, the phrase, ‘together with his elders’, is parenthetical phrase which tells us about other people whom are involved. However, when parenthetical phrases, which usually contain with, together with, as well as, in addition to, in collaboration with, in conjunction with, in association with, in company with, etc., the main verb agrees with the main subject, which precedes the parenthetical phrase, both in number and in person; e.g., the chief ... is/was.
4. From the foregoing, it is grammatical to say or write, ‘The chief, together with his elders, IS (present tense) / WAS (past tense) ...,’ and it is not grammatical to say or write, ‘ The chief, together with his elders, ARE (present tense) / WERE (past tense) ....’
5. However, either the option (A) or the option (B) is syntactically correct because there is lexicon that indicates that the action is in the present tense or the past tense. Thus, since the tense of the action is not indicated, the main subject can agree with either a third-person singular present verb (i.e., is) or a third-person singular past verb (i.e., was).
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The English word classes are simplified in this book. The book also provides the reader with useful rubrics, copious illustrations and copious model questions on each of the parts of speech. Most importantly, the book is useful for those whom want to sit English examinations (the UTME, the Post-UTME...
