What error is present in this sentence? "The team are preparing for the upcoming match."

What error is present in this sentence? "The team are preparing for the upcoming match."

• A. The team
• B. Preparing for the match
• C. Are preparing
• D. No error

Answer: (C)

The reason for identifying "are preparing" as the error in the sentence "The team are preparing for the upcoming match" is rooted in subject-verb agreement. In American English, collective nouns such as "team" are typically treated as singular, which means that they should be paired with singular verbs. Therefore, the correct form should be "The team is preparing," ensuring that the singular subject "team" aligns with the singular verb "is." This concept is important in maintaining grammatical accuracy and clarity in writing. By using a plural verb with a singular noun, it creates a mismatch that could potentially confuse the reader about whether the team is being considered as a single unit or as individual members acting separately. Hence, the accurate verb form reflects the intended meaning more clearly.

The reason for identifying "are preparing" as the error in the sentence "The team are preparing for the upcoming match" is rooted in subject-verb agreement. In American English, collective nouns such as "team" are typically treated as singular, which means that they should be paired with singular verbs. Therefore, the correct form should be "The team is preparing," ensuring that the singular subject "team" aligns with the singular verb "is."

This concept is important in maintaining grammatical accuracy and clarity in writing. By using a plural verb with a singular noun, it creates a mismatch that could potentially confuse the reader about whether the team is being considered as a single unit or as individual members acting separately. Hence, the accurate verb form reflects the intended meaning more clearly.