Correct Option: B. comes
Detailed Explanation:
In the sentence "Ade as well as Jide ____ to the party," we need to determine the correct verb form that agrees with the subject. The key to solving this lies in understanding how the phrase "as well as" affects subject-verb agreement.
- Identifying the Subject:
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The main subject of the sentence is "Ade." The phrase "as well as Jide" is a modifying phrase that adds additional information but does not change the number of the subject. Therefore, the subject remains singular because "Ade" is singular.
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Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement:
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In English, verbs must agree with their subjects in number (singular or plural). Since "Ade" is singular, we need a singular verb form.
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Choosing the Correct Verb Form:
- The verb "come" is the base form of the verb. It does not agree with a singular subject.
- "Coming" is a gerund (a verb form that acts as a noun) and does not fit in this context as we need a finite verb.
- "Will come" is a future tense form, which is not appropriate here since the sentence does not indicate a future action.
- "Comes" is the third person singular present tense form of the verb "come," which correctly matches the singular subject "Ade."
Thus, the correct sentence is: "Ade as well as Jide
comes to the party."
Why the Other Options are Wrong or Weaker:
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A. come: This is the base form of the verb and does not agree with the singular subject "Ade." It would be correct if the subject were plural (e.g., "Ade and Jide come to the party").
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C. coming: This form is a gerund and does not function as a main verb in this context. It cannot be used to indicate an action performed by the subject.
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D. will come: This is a future tense construction. The sentence does not imply a future action; it is simply stating a fact about the present.
Common Pitfalls:
- A common mistake is to assume that "as well as" makes the subject plural. Remember, "as well as" does not change the number of the subject; it merely adds additional information.
- Confusing gerunds with finite verbs can lead to incorrect verb forms being chosen.
Revision Summary:
- The correct verb form must agree with the subject in number.
- "As well as" does not change the singular nature of the subject.
- The correct answer is "comes," which is the singular present tense form of "come."
- Avoid confusing gerunds and future tense forms with the main verb needed in the sentence.