singular or plural????

smagish wrote:.To ensure consistently high quality in its merchandise, the chain of retail stores
became involved in every aspect of their suppliers’ operations, dictating not only
the number of stitches and the width of the hem in every garment as well as the
profit margins of those suppliers.
(A) their suppliers’ operations, dictating not only the number of stitches and the
width of the hem in every garment as well as
(B) its suppliers’ operations, dictating not only the number of stitches and the
width of the hem in every garment as well as
(C) their suppliers’ operations, dictating not only the number of stitches and the
width of the hem in every garment but also
(D) its suppliers’ operations, dictating not only the number of stitches and the
width of the hem in every garment but also
(E) their suppliers’ operations, dictating the number of stitches, the width of the
hem in every garment, and


is retail stores singular or plural????

eagleeye wrote:

smagish wrote:.To ensure consistently high quality in its merchandise, the chain of retail stores
became involved in every aspect of their suppliers’ operations, dictating not only
the number of stitches and the width of the hem in every garment as well as the
profit margins of those suppliers.
(A) their suppliers’ operations, dictating not only the number of stitches and the
width of the hem in every garment as well as
(B) its suppliers’ operations, dictating not only the number of stitches and the
width of the hem in every garment as well as
(C) their suppliers’ operations, dictating not only the number of stitches and the
width of the hem in every garment but also
(D) its suppliers’ operations, dictating not only the number of stitches and the
width of the hem in every garment but also
(E) their suppliers’ operations, dictating the number of stitches, the width of the
hem in every garment, and


is retail stores singular or plural????

Retail stores is plural but in this question the subject is "the chain of retail stores", chain being the operative word. Chain is singular and commands the singular pronoun "it".