Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
Somebody have left dirty clothes on the bed.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. has left.
Error Concept: Related to the use of incorrect verb form with the singular indefinite pronoun “Somebody.”
What is wrong: The verb “have” is incorrectly used. “Somebody” is singular, so the singular form of the verb should be used.
Grammar Concept: When the subject is singular, we use the singular form of the auxiliary verb in the present perfect tense.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: Here, “Somebody” is singular, but “have left” is plural. Therefore, it is grammatically incorrect.
Correction: “have left” should be replaced with “has left.”
Corrected phrase: has left
Final sentence: Somebody has left dirty clothes on the bed.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.