variety of ... has/have

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variety of ... has/have

by shyamprasadrao » Mon Jun 20, 2011 4:58 pm
I recently came across a problem in SC GRAIL ( Q 61 ) that tested has/have usage in "a variety of ..." Below is the explanation from experts. Please let me know if you think otherwise.

Contrary to popular belief, video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday

evening, in fact, a variety of recent studies have begun to demonstrate their

teaching potential.

A. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening, in fact, a variety

of recent studies have begun to demonstrate

B. video games aren't just to kill an idle Thursday evening, but a variety of

recent studies, in fact, have begun to demonstrate

C. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening; in fact, a variety

of recent studies has begun to demonstrate

D. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening; in fact, a variety

of recent studies have begun to demonstrate

E. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening, and a variety of

recent studies have begun in demonstration of

'Variety' is a collective noun and colletive nouns can take both singular and plural verbs dependng on the context.

In this sentence the emphasis is on the studies since it is the studies (and not the 'variety') that have begun to demonstrate. In most cases (but not all) variety will take a plural verb because the empahsis is on the 'variety' i.e. each component and not on the 'variety' as a whole.

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by sameerballani » Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:50 pm
imo D
OA plz?

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by abhishek.pati » Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:15 pm
IMO A
I think there is no need for a ';' here and ','will do the job.

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by ov25 » Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:27 pm
I agree w/ sameer D

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by bubbliiiiiiii » Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:40 am

Contrary to popular belief, video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening, in fact, a variety of recent studies have begun to demonstrate their teaching potential.

A. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening, in fact, a variety of recent studies have begun to demonstrate

B. video games aren't just to kill an idle Thursday evening, but a variety of recent studies, in fact, have begun to demonstrate

C. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening; in fact, a variety of recent studies has begun to demonstrate

D. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening; in fact, a variety of recent studies have begun to demonstrate

E. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening, and a variety of recent studies have begun in demonstration of
Regards,

Pranay

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by sanabk » Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:19 pm

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by winniethepooh » Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:51 pm
What's the Official Answer?

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by shyamprasadrao » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:38 pm
OA D

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by bubbliiiiiiii » Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:26 pm
Hey Sameer,

Can you please explain why D?
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by sameerballani » Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:34 am
Probably, for the same reason for which you have ignored it: the use of ;

We have an independent clause so it will be better to connect it using ;
Also i read somewhere that after ; , you need to have transitive or other words such as therefore,etc to continue/depict the essence.
Also, i feel after comma, you can have only FANBOYS.
bubbliiiiiiii wrote:

Contrary to popular belief, video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening, in fact, a variety of recent studies have begun to demonstrate their teaching potential.

A. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening, in fact, a variety of recent studies have begun to demonstrate

B. video games aren't just to kill an idle Thursday evening, but a variety of recent studies, in fact, have begun to demonstrate

C. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening; in fact, a variety of recent studies has begun to demonstrate

D. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening; in fact, a variety of recent studies have begun to demonstrate

E. video games aren't just for killing an idle Thursday evening, and a variety of recent studies have begun in demonstration of