Introduction / Context:
This question examines subject–verb agreement when the main subject is followed by a phrase like along with. Many learners mistakenly allow the additional phrase to change the verb form, so exam questions are designed to see whether you focus on the true grammatical subject. The sentence states that the Captain, together with his team, has been invited to a function.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sentence: The Captain along with (1) his team has been (2) invited to the function. (3) No Error (4).
- Part 1: The Captain along with.
- Part 2: his team has been.
- Part 3: invited to the function.
- The phrase along with his team is additional information, not part of the main subject.
Concept / Approach:
In English grammar, when the main subject is followed by a phrase such as along with, together with, as well as, or accompanied by, the verb agrees with the main subject, not with the additional phrase. Here the main subject is The Captain, which is singular, so the correct verb form is has been, not have been. The sentence as written correctly follows this rule, so there is no error in any part of it.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the main subject: The Captain, which is singular.
Step 2: Recognise that along with his team is a modifying phrase that adds extra information about who is included, but does not change the subject's number.
Step 3: Check the verb in part 2: has been. For a singular subject like The Captain, has been is correct in present perfect passive.
Step 4: Verify part 1: The Captain along with is a standard way to begin such a sentence and has no grammatical error.
Step 5: Verify part 3: invited to the function correctly completes the passive construction and is grammatically sound.
Step 6: Since parts 1, 2, and 3 are correct, the sentence has no error, and the correct answer is option 4 (No Error).
Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a similar sentence: The principal, along with the teachers, has arrived. The verb has agrees with principal, not teachers. If we change the sentence incorrectly to The Captain along with his team have been invited, the verb would wrongly agree with team rather than Captain, violating the rule. The original sentence The Captain along with his team has been invited to the function is therefore grammatically correct and should not be altered.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Option 1: The phrase along with is correctly used to join the main subject and additional information.
- Option 2: The verb has been agrees with the singular subject The Captain and is therefore correct.
- Option 3: The phrase invited to the function correctly completes the passive construction.
Common Pitfalls:
The most common mistake is to treat along with his team as if it made the subject plural, leading students to prefer have been instead of has been. Exam setters use this pattern frequently to test whether candidates understand how such phrases work. Always identify the true subject first and then choose the verb form that agrees with that subject, ignoring additional phrases that merely add information.
Final Answer:
There is
No Error in the sentence, so the correct option is 4.
Discussion & Comments