Discussion
In the sentence below, a part is printed in bold. Choose the alternative that improves it. If the sentence needs no change, choose ‘No improvement’.
The chief guest as well as the students were served refreshments.
Answer: A
Correct answer: was
As well as is a parenthetical phrase, not a conjunction joining two subjects. The subject remains the chief guest, singular, so the verb is was. The family of phrases that behaves this way is worth learning together: as well as, along with, together with, with, besides, in addition to, accompanied by, including and no less than. None changes the number of the subject. The deletion test is decisive: strike the phrase out and read what remains - the chief guest was served refreshments. The contrast is with and, which genuinely creates a compound plural subject: the chief guest and the students were served is correct. Examiners rely on the plural noun standing immediately before the verb, which pulls the ear towards the plural even where the grammar does not.
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