How to identify the Subject In this sentence

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Uva@90: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 490; Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:30 amFollowed by: 5 members; Location: Chennai, India; Thanked: 83 times

by Uva@90 » Sat Dec 03, 2016 6:27 am

The combination of growth and return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to its cost are what drive value.

A. The combination of growth and return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to its cost are what drive value
B. The combination of growth and return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to their cost is what drives value
C. The combination of growth and return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to its cost is what is driving value
D. The combination of growth as well as return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to its cost was what drove value
E. The combination of growth and return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to its cost is what drives value

Known is a drop Unknown is an Ocean

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Sat Dec 03, 2016 6:27 am

DavidG@VeritasPrep: Legendary Member; Posts: 2663; Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:25 amFollowed by: 128 members; Location: Boston, MA; Thanked: 1153 times; GMAT Score:770

by DavidG@VeritasPrep » Sat Dec 03, 2016 11:43 am

Uva@90 wrote:The combination of growth and return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to its cost are what drive value.

A. The combination of growth and return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to its cost are what drive value
B. The combination of growth and return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to their cost is what drives value
C. The combination of growth and return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to its cost is what is driving value
D. The combination of growth as well as return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to its cost was what drove value
E. The combination of growth and return on invested capital (ROIC) relative to its cost is what drives value

The subject = the combination. So we want The combination .... is

("Of growth and return...." is a modifier. Just be aware that are instances in which the modifier will dictate whether the subject is plural. (If, for example, the subject is "some," "percentage," "most," etc.) For example, "Some of the pie is missing." Vs. "Some of my friends are taking the test.")

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