Which of the following sentences has an error in subject-verb agreement?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → The smell of the frying pakoras have filled the whole house.
The verb agrees with the main noun, not with the noun after “of”:
- The given sentence says “The smell of the frying pakoras have filled”.
- The subject is “the smell”, not “pakoras”. “Smell” is singular, so the verb must be singular: “has filled”.
- Corrected: The smell of the frying pakoras has filled the whole house.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: Here are the keys you were looking for this morning. This sentence is correct. The subject “the keys” comes after the verb. It is plural, so “are” is right.
Option 3: Neither of my grandparents likes bitter gourd. This sentence is correct. “Neither of” means not one of the two, so it takes the singular verb “likes”.
Option 4: These pliers are too rusty to cut the wire. This sentence is correct. “Pliers” names one tool with two arms. Such words always take a plural verb, so “are” is right.