Correct Option: B. is
Detailed Explanation:
In the sentence "Ade as well as Jide ___ going to the market," we need to determine the correct verb form to fill in the blank. The key to understanding this lies in the grammatical structure of the sentence, particularly how the phrase "as well as" affects the subject.
- Identifying the Subject:
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The main subject of the sentence is "Ade." The phrase "as well as Jide" is an additional phrase that provides extra information about who is going to the market. Importantly, "as well as" does not change the number of the subject. Therefore, the subject remains singular because "Ade" is singular.
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Choosing the Correct Verb Form:
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Since the subject is singular ("Ade"), we need to use a singular verb form. The verb "is" is the singular present tense form of "to be," which correctly matches the singular subject.
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Understanding the Options:
- A. are: This is the plural form of the verb "to be." It would be correct if the subject were plural (e.g., "Ade and Jide are going to the market"). However, since our subject is singular, this option is incorrect.
- B. is: This is the correct answer. It agrees with the singular subject "Ade." The complete sentence would read: "Ade as well as Jide is going to the market."
- C. were: This is the past tense plural form of "to be." It would not be appropriate here because the sentence is in the present tense and the subject is singular.
- D. be: This is the base form of the verb "to be." It is not suitable in this context because we need a conjugated verb that agrees with the subject in the present tense.
Summary of Why Other Options are Incorrect:
- A. are: Incorrect because it is plural and does not agree with the singular subject "Ade."
- C. were: Incorrect because it is past tense and does not match the present tense context of the sentence.
- D. be: Incorrect because it is the base form and does not fit grammatically in the sentence structure.
Common Pitfalls:
- A common mistake is to assume that "as well as" makes the subject plural. Remember, "as well as" is a phrase that adds information but does not change the number of the subject.
- Another pitfall is confusing the verb forms. Always ensure that the verb agrees in number (singular/plural) and tense (present/past) with the subject.
Revision Summary:
- The correct verb form for the sentence is "is" because the subject "Ade" is singular.
- "As well as" does not change the singular nature of the subject.
- Always match the verb form to the subject in number and tense.
- Be cautious of common phrases that might mislead you about the subject's number.