Subject Verb agreement - Economist - The Beat The GMAT Forum - Expert GMAT Help & MBA Admissions Advice

Subject Verb agreement - Economist

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sparkles3144: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 145; Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:27 am; Thanked: 7 times

by sparkles3144 » Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:53 pm

White blood cells, red blood cells, platelets and plasma, which makes up 55% of the volume of normal blood, is the main component of blood.

A. up 55% of the volume of normal blood, is the main component
B. up 55% of the volume of normal blood, are the main component
C. up 55% of the volume of normal blood, are the main components
D. 55% of the volume of normal blood, are the components
E. up 55% of normal blood, is the main components

Answer: C

First I thought it is C but then I changed my mind because I saw *which makes*
Makes is singular. Right?

Can someone please explain about makes? I am lost.

Thanks!

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:53 pm

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by [email protected] » Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:25 pm

Hi sparkles3144,

This SC begins with a list of items, but uses the word 'AND', so we're supposed to treat this as a plural subject.

We'll need a plural verb and a plural noun to match.

1) Verb - between 'is' and 'are', we'll need to use 'are.' Eliminate A and E.

2) Noun - between 'component' and 'components', we'll need to use 'components.' Eliminate B.

3) Style - we're told that the four listed items make up 55% of the volume of blood, so they are NOT the only components. The word 'main' is required. Eliminate D.

Final Answer: C

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at [email protected]

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Bill@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1248; Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members; Location: Everywhere; Thanked: 503 times; GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:57 pm

In addition to what Rich said, "makes" is indeed singular. It should be singular since it refers only to "plasma", which is also singular.

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