Read the passage and answer the following question:
India and the United Kingdom have shared a strong economic relationship for decades. In recent years, both countries have been working towards finalising a comprehensive trade agreement to boost economic growth and cooperation. This proposed trade deal aims to reduce tariffs, encourage investments, and create new opportunities for businesses in sectors like technology, education, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
Negotiations for the agreement have not always been easy. Issues like market access, labour mobility, and regulatory standards have led to lengthy discussions. However, leaders from both sides believe that a fair and balanced trade agreement will benefit millions by generating employment, increasing exports, and strengthening diplomatic ties.
Experts say that if successful, the India-UK trade agreement could become a model for future partnerships with other nations. It could help India expand its global reach and attract more foreign investors, while the UK could gain access to India's vast market, which is one of the fastest-growing in the world.
In the sentence:
"Negotiations for the agreement have not always been easy," why is the plural verb "have" used instead of "has"?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer: Because "negotiations" is a plural subject
Explanation
• According to the rule of Subject-Verb Agreement, a verb must agree with its true grammatical subject in number and person.
• In the clause "Negotiations for the agreement have not always been easy," the phrase "for the agreement" is a prepositional modifier where "agreement" acts as the object of the preposition.
• The core subject is the plural noun negotiations, which requires the plural auxiliary verb have rather than the singular has.
Quick Tip: Ignore prepositional phrases (like of, for, with, along with) placed between the subject and the verb when deciding whether the verb should be singular or plural.