English Grammar — Spot the error (choose the incorrect part; select 'No error' if the sentence is correct). Sentence parts: A) The new facts he B) has discovered and the new C) arguments he has advanced D) has not changed my opinion. E) No error

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: has not changed my opinion.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question examines subject–verb agreement across a compound subject joined by “and.” The error lies in choosing the correct auxiliary form “have/has” to match a plural subject.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Compound subject: “the new facts … and the new arguments …”
  • Predicate verb phrase uses “has not changed.”
  • Plural subject requires plural auxiliary “have.”


Concept / Approach:
With coordinated nouns linked by “and,” the subject is plural, so the verb must also be plural. Therefore, “have not changed” is correct, not “has not changed.”


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the head subject elements: “facts” and “arguments.”Step 2: Determine number: Two plural nouns linked by “and” produce a plural subject.Step 3: Adjust verb to match: use “have not changed.”Step 4: Corrected clause: “have not changed my opinion.”


Verification / Alternative check:
Replace the subject with a singular to test: “The new set of facts and arguments has …” In the original, no collective “set” exists; the head is plural, confirming “have.”


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • A, B, C: Each segment is grammatically well-formed.
  • E: Not applicable because D contains the error.


Common Pitfalls:
Writers are misled by the proximity of a singular auxiliary in relative clauses or by the distance between subject and main verb. Always return to the true grammatical subject before choosing verb number.


Final Answer:
D) has not changed my opinion.

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