Which of the following sentences has an error in subject-verb agreement?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → The number of stalls at the Diwali mela were much smaller this year.
“The number of” takes a singular verb:
- The given sentence says “The number of stalls ... were”.
- The subject is “the number”, not “stalls”. “The number” is one figure, so the verb must be singular.
- Corrected: The number of stalls at the Diwali mela was much smaller this year.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Neither of the lifts in our building is working today. This sentence is correct. “Neither of” means not one and not the other, so it takes a singular verb.
Option 2: What the farmers need now is a week of steady rain. This sentence is correct. The subject is the whole clause “what the farmers need now”. A clause like this takes a singular verb.
Option 3: The list of names for the morning assembly duties is on the notice board. This sentence is correct. The subject is “the list”, not “names”. “List” is singular, so “is” is right.