Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
- A.The team of nurses are reviewing the new protocol.
- B.Either the charge nurse or the staff nurses is responsible for the update.
- C.Each of the patients has been assessed before the shift change.
- D.The data that was collected over three years are inconclusive.
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer
C. Each of the patients has been assessed before the shift change.
Rationale
C is correct: 'Each' is an indefinite pronoun that is always singular; it requires the singular verb 'has been.' This sentence correctly pairs the singular subject with a singular verb. A is incorrect: 'Team' is a collective noun treated as singular in American English; the verb should be 'is reviewing,' not 'are reviewing.' B is incorrect: With 'either/or' constructions, the verb agrees with the closer subject. 'Staff nurses' is plural, so the verb should be 'are responsible,' not 'is responsible.' D is incorrect: 'Data' is the plural of 'datum'; it should be paired with the plural verb 'are inconclusive', but the relative clause 'that was collected' is correct, making the sentence internally inconsistent. The error in this option is having the main verb agree with 'data' as singular.
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