Confusion with that.

[sumitkhurana]

A secret cache of personal journals that were the property of Mr X, are about to be published.

A. A secret cache of personal journals that was the property of Mr X, is about to be published.

B. A secret cache of personal journals that were the property of Mr X, is about to be published.


Which of these should be the correct answer ? What is that referring to here -- "cache of personal journals" or "personal journals". What is the specific rule ??

[scoobydooby]

i go for 3rd option

"that" modifies the journals. journals plural-requires were

the cache (a collection) is collective noun and is singular, requires a singular "is"

[niraj_a]

agree with scooby

[ikumaran]

ya scooby... nice explanation... at first I thought to choose "......are about to be published."

anyway thanks a lot man...

[iamcste]

A secret cache of personal journals that were the property of Mr X, are about to be published.

A. A secret cache of personal journals that was the property of Mr X, is about to be published.

B. A secret cache of personal journals that were the property of Mr X, is about to be published.


Which of these should be the correct answer ? What is that referring to here -- "cache of personal journals" or "personal journals". What is the specific rule ??

Sumit,

Its quite simple

Just ignore prepositonal phrases while determining subject..in simple terms "of....", "with.."


so, in this case, you focus only on "A secret cache "

hence, singular. Choose "was"

( Pls note the exceptions

for Some, None, All, Any, Most/More , pronouns used as singular as well as plural, we have to refer the check whether the object of the "Prepositonalf" phrase

e.g Most of the water is

of ? water..uncountable and hence verb "is")




Secondly why "tha