Bunuel
If teachers, often feeling unappreciated and unmotivated,
is paid higher wages, the standard of education will improve.
A. is paid higher wages, the standard of education will improve
B. are paid higher wages, the standard of education would improve
C. are paid higher wages, the standard of education will have improved
D. are paid higher wages, the standard of education can improve
E. are paid higher wages, the standard of education will improve
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
If teachers, often feeling unappreciated and unmotivated, is paid higher wages, the standard of education will improve.A. is paid higher wages, the standard of education will improve
This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The plural subject teachers does not agree with the singular verb is.
What helps us identify this question as a Subject Verb Agreement question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign:
A long complex subject / a long distance between the subject and the verb
B. are paid higher wages, the standard of education would improve
Although this answer choice corrects the original Subject Verb Agreement error by replacing is with are, it is grammatically incorrect as it incorrectly uses the Future-Past (would...improve) in the result part of a Conditional 1 sentence. We identify the sentence as a Conditional 1 sentence by the use of Present in the condition part (If...are). Accordingly, the result part of the conditional sentence should be in the Future or Present tense.
What helps identify this question as a Conditionals question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign:
If / UnlessC. are paid higher wages, the standard of education will have improved
Although this answer choice corrects the original Subject Verb Agreement error by replacing is with are, it incorrectly uses the Future Perfect (will have improved) in the result part of a Conditional 1 sentence. We identify the sentence as a Conditional 1 sentence by the use of Present in the condition part (If... are). Accordingly, the result part of the conditional sentence should be in the Future or Present tense.
What helps identify this question as a Conditionals question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign:
D. are paid higher wages, the standard of education can improve
Although this answer choice corrects the original Subject Verb Agreement error by replacing is with are, it changes the meaning of the original sentence by replacing will with can. The word can implies that the result is uncertain whereas will implies that the result is certain.E. are paid higher wages, the standard of education will improve
This answer choice correctly matches the plural verb are with the plural subject teachers. It also correctly uses the Future tense (will improve) for the result part of a Conditional 1 sentence.