Identify the error in the sentence: The committee have made their decision.

Identify the error in the sentence: The committee have made their decision.

• A. Spelling error
• B. Subject/verb agreement
• C. Fragment/run-on
• D. No error

Answer: (B)

The sentence "The committee have made their decision" contains a subject/verb agreement error. In this case, "committee" is a collective noun that is treated as a singular entity in American English. Therefore, the correct verb form should be "has" instead of "have." The proper phrasing would be "The committee has made its decision." This highlights that while a committee consists of multiple members, it functions as a single unit in this context, necessitating the use of a singular verb. This choice demonstrates an important principle in English grammar regarding collective nouns and their agreement with verbs. Understanding subject/verb agreement is crucial for writing clearly and effectively, allowing readers to understand the intended meaning without confusion.

The sentence "The committee have made their decision" contains a subject/verb agreement error. In this case, "committee" is a collective noun that is treated as a singular entity in American English. Therefore, the correct verb form should be "has" instead of "have." The proper phrasing would be "The committee has made its decision." This highlights that while a committee consists of multiple members, it functions as a single unit in this context, necessitating the use of a singular verb.

This choice demonstrates an important principle in English grammar regarding collective nouns and their agreement with verbs. Understanding subject/verb agreement is crucial for writing clearly and effectively, allowing readers to understand the intended meaning without confusion.