Single correct option
The manager [as well as his assistants were] present at the meeting.
- A. as well as his assistants was
- B. No improvement
- C. and his assistants was
- D. along his assistants were
Show answer and solution
Answer: (A) as well as his assistants was
With 'as well as', the verb agrees with the first subject, 'manager', which is singular. So 'was' is needed. The plural 'assistants' tempts one to keep 'were'. Replacing 'as well as' with 'and' would make the subject plural, so 'and ... was' is also wrong. Strike out the intervening phrase, find the real subject, and then decide whether the verb should be singular or plural; this habit quickly removes most such traps.
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