Standard scuba equipment tend to mask underwater sounds with its bub

Question

Standard scuba equipment  tend to mask underwater sounds with its bubbling noise. 
 
A. tend to mask underwater sounds with its bubbling noise.

B. tend to mask underwater sounds with its noisy bubbles.

C. tends to mask underwater sounds with their noisy bubbles.

D. tend to mask underwater sounds with their bubbling noise.

E. tends to mask their bubbling noise with noisy bubbles.

Kavish123 · Answer

The answer is c. Singular so a, b and d are eliminated.
The use of bubbling noise and noisy bubbles is confusing in e

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Mangs1297 · Answer

I think there is pronoun error in c.
E should be the answer.

SUSHMITA658 · Answer

Can someone please explain why D is the right answer . 
I believe it should be "tends" and not "tend"

DG2020 · Answer

Pls explain why C is incorrect. Equipment should use tends not tend

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Sumi1010 · Answer

Abhi077 
Can you please share the OE? 
D does not seem to comply Subject-Verb agreement.

winterschool · Answer

Standard scuba equipment tend to mask underwater sounds with its bubbling noise.

A.  tend  to mask underwater sounds with  its  bubbling noise.  Incorrect

pronoun error- Standard scuba equipment singular or plural, 'its' is wrong with tend, 
its refers Standard scuba equipment as singular, whereas tend refers Standard scuba equipment as plural

B.  tend  to mask underwater sounds with  its  noisy bubbles.  Incorrect

same as A

C.  tends  to mask underwater sounds with  their  noisy bubbles.  Incorrect

reverse error as A - their refers Standard scuba equipment as plural, whereas tends refers Standard scuba equipment as singular

D.  tend to mask underwater sounds with their bubbling noise.   Correct

both same - their refers Standard scuba equipment as plural, whereas tend refers Standard scuba equipment as plural

E.  tends  to mask  their  bubbling noise with noisy bubbles.  Incorrect

same as C

Abhi077 · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

In this sentence, the word equipment can be singular or plural. Depending on how it is used, we have to use the conect verb form and ensure concord or subject verb
agreement, The pronoun should also agree in number to the noun. The verb lend and pronoun it or their has to agree with the noun equipment.
Choice (D) is the best choice. Equipment has been used as a plural and agrees with the verb tend and plural pronoun their. Bubbling noise or noisy bubbles can both be used. Both are meaningful

Hence choice Choice (D) is the correct answer

Special mention : The noun equipment can be countable or uncountable. In more general, commonly used, contexts, the plural form I’ll also be equipment .

govindarathi4 · Answer

The ‘equipment’ can be both singular and plural. So, it boils down to using the correct pronoun with the verb.
Only option D offers such combination. (Tend is plural and theirs is plural)
BTW, the combination of tends and its would also have been correct.

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somyamehta777 · Answer

S-V agreement issues here -

Standard Scuba equipment - is a plural entity here because of the option choices

A. tend to mask underwater sounds with  its  bubbling noise. - incorrect, its referring to a singular entity but no singular entity in question

B. tend to mask underwater sounds with its noisy bubbles. - Incorrect, same as A

C. tends to mask underwater sounds with their noisy bubbles. - Incorrect, tends (singular), subject - plural

D. tend to mask underwater sounds with their bubbling noise. - Correct

E. tends to mask their bubbling noise with noisy bubbles. - Incorrect, same as C

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Standard scuba equipment tend to mask underwater sounds with its bub

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