Sentence Correction

Hi

Q: The list of animals that exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates.

A: exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include
B exhibits the preference to use either the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded and includes
C exhibit a preference in either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include
D exhibit a preference for using either the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include
E exhibit the preference as to either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded and includes


I thought the list should use exhibits because of animal is prepositional phrase after the list, so I cross of C, D, E, and A is right because the meaning should be has been expanded to include, but the correct answer is D.

Thanks!

You're absolutely right that 'of animals' is a prepositional phrase. So you're right that the main verb should agree with list and not with animals.

BUT the verb connected to list here is 'has been expanded...' (that's the info we're getting about the list.

I think the best way to think about exhibits vs exhibit is to think about meaning. Ask yourself, 'what exhibit(s) a preference for either using the right or left hand? what is the sentence trying to say?

It's definitely not the list itself that wants to be right or left handed. It's the animals.

So exhibit should agree with animals.

nsuen wrote:Hi

Q: The list of animals that exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates.

A: exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include
B exhibits the preference to use either the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded and includes
C exhibit a preference in either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include
D exhibit a preference for using either the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include
E exhibit the preference as to either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded and includes


I thought the list should use exhibits because of animal is prepositional phrase after the list, so I cross of C, D, E, and A is right because the meaning should be has been expanded to include, but the correct answer is D.

Thanks!

The subject is list. The verb will agree in number with the subject, hence the use of exhibit.

Hi Verbals Experts ,

Can you please explain why B is wrong and D is right?

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin

nsuen wrote:The list of animals that exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates.

A: exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include
B exhibits the preference to use either the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded and includes
C exhibit a preference in either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include
D exhibit a preference for using either the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded to include
E exhibit the preference as to either using the right or the left hand ( ie, claw, paw or foot) has been expanded and includes

A: the list...that exhibits a preference
B: the list...that exhibits the preference
These options convey a nonsensical meaning:
It is not possible for a LIST to exhibit a preference.
The intended meaning is that THE ANIMALS on the list EXHIBIT a preference.
Eliminate A and B.

either X or Y must serve to connect PARALLEL FORMS.
C and E: either USING...or the LEFT HAND
Here, using and the left hand are not parallel forms.
Eliminate C and E.

The correct answer is D.