Sentence Correction

The magnitude of yesterday's earthquake has been determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials are how to both detect warning signs of an earthquake and predict its location of impact.

a. has been determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials are
b. has been determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials is
c. have been determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials is
d. have been determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials are
e. are determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials is

answer is B

I know the first verb has to be HAS since subject is magnitude singular. But why the other verb is "is"? There are two lists
1 to detect warning signs
2 to predict its location.

So what;s the subject of the second verb? thanks!

IMO B

you have rightly pointed reason #1
b'cos it is "intrigues" and not "intrigue" it has to be "is"

It intrigues - It is the implied subject
They intrigue - they is the implied subject

here intriques is singular so is to be used

alwayslulu wrote:The magnitude of yesterday's earthquake has been determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials are how to both detect warning signs of an earthquake and predict its location of impact.

a. has been determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials are
b. has been determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials is
c. have been determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials is
d. have been determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials are
e. are determined by seismologists, but what really intrigues government officials is

answer is B

I know the first verb has to be HAS since subject is magnitude singular. But why the other verb is "is"? There are two lists
1 to detect warning signs
2 to predict its location.

So what;s the subject of the second verb? thanks!

There aren't 2 list there is only one activity i.e "How to both x & y" . This whole sentence is quotes acts as Subject hence 'IS' is correct over here.

On the same lines picked up the below sentence from my notes.

The country in which the antique music box was fashioned has been determined by Walter Essex, but what is much more difficult to determine are the companies that produced it.

A. has been determined by Walter Essex, but what is much more difficult to determine are
B. has been determined by Walter Essex, but what is much more difficult to determine is
C. have been determined by Walter Essex, but what is much more difficult to determine is
D. have been determined by Walter Essex, but what is much more difficult to determine are
E. has been determined by Walter Essex, but that which is much more difficult to determine are

I believe that "what really intrigues government officials" is the subject.

On the same lines picked up the below sentence from my notes.

The country in which the antique music box was fashioned has been determined by Walter Essex, but what is much more difficult to determine are the companies that produced it.

A. has been determined by Walter Essex, but what is much more difficult to determine are
B. has been determined by Walter Essex, but what is much more difficult to determine is
C. have been determined by Walter Essex, but what is much more difficult to determine is
D. have been determined by Walter Essex, but what is much more difficult to determine are
E. has been determined by Walter Essex, but that which is much more difficult to determine are

Here 2nd subject is "what is much more difficult to determine", which is always singular

iamseer wrote:IMO B

you have rightly pointed reason #1
b'cos it is "intrigues" and not "intrigue" it has to be "is"

It intrigues - It is the implied subject
They intrigue - they is the implied subject

So, the reason why it's using "IS" because of subject: intrigues ? So if the sentence uses "intrigue" then my verb would be ARE ??

Thanks much for your explanation.

alwayslulu wrote:

iamseer wrote:IMO B

you have rightly pointed reason #1
b'cos it is "intrigues" and not "intrigue" it has to be "is"

It intrigues - It is the implied subject
They intrigue - they is the implied subject

So, the reason why it's using "IS" because of subject: intrigues ? So if the sentence uses "intrigue" then my verb would be ARE ??

Thanks much for your explanation.

I don't think so.

A clause can be a subject. I have indicated in my above post.

Things that can't be subject
Object of verbs
Object of preposition
Subordinate clause

If this is the subject: "what really intrigues government officials"

Then, there are two things that intrigues the gov. officials ...

and we have plural then .. ?

I'm confused.
[/u]

alwayslulu wrote:

iamseer wrote:IMO B

you have rightly pointed reason #1
b'cos it is "intrigues" and not "intrigue" it has to be "is"

It intrigues - It is the implied subject
They intrigue - they is the implied subject

So, the reason why it's using "IS" because of subject: intrigues ? So if the sentence uses "intrigue" then my verb would be ARE ??

Thanks much for your explanation.

We use "is" b'cos the subject is singular. And the fact that the subject (whatever it might be) "intrigues", tell me that it is singular.

We can't use intrigue and are here. If you want an example of intrigue and are:

The magnitude of yesterday's earthquake has been determined by seismologists, but what really intrigue government officials are the variations.

Variations intrigue government officials

HTH

iamseer wrote:IMO B

you have rightly pointed reason #1
b'cos it is "intrigues" and not "intrigue" it has to be "is"

It intrigues - It is the implied subject
They intrigue - they is the implied subject

Nice catch!!!