Each of the fallen soldiers

Question

Each of the fallen soldiers – Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - were hard workers, very different from the soldiers that remained to guard the hospital.

A. Each of the fallen soldiers – Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - were hard workers
B. Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - each of them fallen soldiers – were hard workers
C. The fallen soldiers – Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - were all hard workers

[spoiler]OA:Later[/spoiler]

HSPA · Answer

C for me

ov25 · Answer

C, by all means for clarity purposes

divya23 · Answer

imo c

VivianKerr · Answer

When we see two dashes in a sentence like this, we can think of the information between them as an appositive phrase and mentally eliminate it. The rest of the sentence must make sense. Pay close attention to subject-verb agreement.

"Each" is singular and cannot go with "were", so A and B can be eliminated. The answer is C.

This is another similar question:

Each of Hemingway's wives - Hadley Richardson. Pauline Pfeiffer. Martha Gelhom. and Mary Welsh - were strong and interesting women, very different from the often pallid women who populate his novels.

(A) Each of Hemingway's wives - Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh - were strong and interesting women,

(B) Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhorn, and Mary Welsh - each of them Hemingway's wives - were strong and, interesting women,

(C) Hemingway's wives - Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhorn, and Mary Welsh - were all strong and interesting women,

(D) Strong and interesting women — Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhorn, and Mary Welsh - each a wife of Hemingway, was

(E) Strong and interesting women — Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhorn, and Mary Welsh - every one of Hemingway's wives were

OA: C

Vivian Kerr
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sameerballani · Answer

VivianKerr wrote:When we see two dashes in a sentence like this, we can think of the information between them as an appositive phrase and mentally eliminate it. The rest of the sentence must make sense. Pay close attention to subject-verb agreement.

"Each" is singular and cannot go with "were", so A and B can be eliminated. The answer is C.

Why B is eliminated?
If we remove what is mentioned in between the dashes, we get -

Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - each of them fallen soldiers - were hard workers

Don't we have plural subject here? Please guide.
Also, don't you think there should be a comma before Bob

Thanks

atulmangal · Answer

Hi vivian,

i have a confusion in your reasoning for Op B, please clear.

"Each" is singular and cannot go with "were", so A and B can be eliminated. The answer is C.

for Op A its okay but in Op B

Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - each of them fallen soldiers - were hard workers

Here i think the subject is "Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay" and correctly associated with plural verb "were"...moreover i think, the part in between "-" is a modifier...there may be some other reason to eliminate Op B or m applying wrong concept here???

Frankenstein · Answer

atulmangal wrote:Hi vivian,

i have a confusion in your reasoning for Op B, please clear.

"Each" is singular and cannot go with "were", so A and B can be eliminated. The answer is C.
for Op A its okay but in Op B

Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - each of them fallen soldiers - were hard workers

Here i think the subject is "Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay" and correctly associated with plural verb "were"...moreover i think, the part in between "-" is a modifier...there may be some other reason to eliminate Op B or m applying wrong concept here???

Hi,
Good point.
B would be correct if we change it as follows:
Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - each of them a fallen soldier - were hard workers.
(or)
Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - all of them fallen soldiers - were hard workers
I believe that was the mistake in B.

Cheers!

Things are not what they appear to be... nor are they otherwise

atulmangal · Answer

Frankenstein wrote:atulmangal wrote:Hi vivian, i have a confusion in your reasoning for Op B, please clear. "Each" is singular and cannot go with "were", so A and B can be eliminated. The answer is C. for Op A its okay but in Op B Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - each of them fallen soldiers - were hard workers Here i think the subject is "Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay" and correctly associated with plural verb "were"...moreover i think, the part in between "-" is a modifier...there may be some other reason to eliminate Op B or m applying wrong concept here??? Hi, Good point. B would be correct if we change it as follows: Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - each of them a fallen soldier - were hard workers. (or) Henry Johnson, Paul Rider, Brent Hall and Bob McCay - all of them fallen soldiers - were hard workers I believe that was the mistake in B. 100% correct, this is the reasoning i was expecting...the original official question which Vivian posted is from OG-10, and i remember Og gives the same explanation why Op B is incorrect. Great!!

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