Last visit was: 20 Nov 2025, 02:57 It is currently 20 Nov 2025, 02:57
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
bmwhype2
User avatar
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Last visit: 08 Mar 2010
Posts: 1,338
Own Kudos:
5,435
Given Kudos: 4
Location: New York City
Posts: 1,338
Kudos: 5,435
SVA 15 Aug 2007, 08:34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A variety of gold coins were/was stolen from the vault.



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
vineetgupta
User avatar
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Last visit: 25 Jul 2009
Posts: 377
Own Kudos:
1,397
Posts: 377
Kudos: 1,397
SVA 15 Aug 2007, 08:38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
'A variety' refers to a single group...so 'was' is correct.
User avatar
dwivedys
User avatar
Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Last visit: 02 Sep 2018
Posts: 597
Own Kudos:
750
Given Kudos: 17
Concentration: Strategy
Schools:Wharton (R2 - submitted); HBS (R2 - submitted); IIMA (admitted for 1 year PGPX)
Posts: 597
Kudos: 750
SVA 15 Aug 2007, 10:10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
bmwhype2
A variety of gold coins were/was stolen from the vault.
Show more



It's hard to say. When you say - A VARIETY OF GOLD COINS WAS STOLEN - it could mean A SPECIFIC Variety was stolen as opposed to the intended meaning of a number of gold coins having been stolen.

In the other meaning - when by VARIETY we mean a number of different kinds of gold coins - we definitely need the WERE for SVA.

If we get something like this on the GMAT - I would just trust my gut instinct and pick up - were, because sometimes the SVA is ascertained by the OBJECT of preposition OF - so since coins is plural we must have a plural verb.

However, this rule (where the verb is determined by the plurality of the object of preposition OF) holds when OF is preceded by one of the SANAM pronouns (Some, all, None, Any, Most)

Some of the coins WERE lost

None of the paintings WERE mine

Some of the dough WAS stolen
User avatar
bmwhype2
User avatar
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Last visit: 08 Mar 2010
Posts: 1,338
Own Kudos:
5,435
Given Kudos: 4
Location: New York City
Posts: 1,338
Kudos: 5,435
SVA 15 Aug 2007, 10:28
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
dwivedys
bmwhype2
A variety of gold coins were/was stolen from the vault.


It's hard to say. When you say - A VARIETY OF GOLD COINS WAS STOLEN - it could mean A SPECIFIC Variety was stolen as opposed to the intended meaning of a number of gold coins having been stolen.

In the other meaning - when by VARIETY we mean a number of different kinds of gold coins - we definitely need the WERE for SVA.

If we get something like this on the GMAT - I would just trust my gut instinct and pick up - were, because sometimes the SVA is ascertained by the OBJECT of preposition OF - so since coins is plural we must have a plural verb.

However, this rule (where the verb is determined by the plurality of the object of preposition OF) holds when OF is preceded by one of the SANAM pronouns (Some, all, None, Any, Most)

Some of the coins WERE lost

None of the paintings WERE mine

Some of the dough WAS stolen
Show more


A variety of X was
Varieties of X were

A variety of gold coins was stolen from the vault.
User avatar
zakk
User avatar
Joined: 17 Jul 2007
Last visit: 28 Jul 2008
Posts: 230
Own Kudos:
7
Location: The 408
Posts: 230
Kudos: 7
SVA 15 Aug 2007, 10:29
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
for that sentance, were would be appropraite. "variety" denotes more than a single type of coin.
User avatar
bmwhype2
User avatar
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Last visit: 08 Mar 2010
Posts: 1,338
Own Kudos:
5,435
Given Kudos: 4
Location: New York City
Posts: 1,338
Kudos: 5,435
SVA 15 Aug 2007, 10:39
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Choosing a variety of foods (within and across food groups) improves dietary patterns because....
User avatar
bmwhype2
User avatar
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Last visit: 08 Mar 2010
Posts: 1,338
Own Kudos:
5,435
Given Kudos: 4
Location: New York City
Posts: 1,338
Kudos: 5,435
SVA 25 Aug 2007, 16:26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
dwivedys
bmwhype2
A variety of gold coins were/was stolen from the vault.


It's hard to say. When you say - A VARIETY OF GOLD COINS WAS STOLEN - it could mean A SPECIFIC Variety was stolen as opposed to the intended meaning of a number of gold coins having been stolen.

In the other meaning - when by VARIETY we mean a number of different kinds of gold coins - we definitely need the WERE for SVA.

If we get something like this on the GMAT - I would just trust my gut instinct and pick up - were, because sometimes the SVA is ascertained by the OBJECT of preposition OF - so since coins is plural we must have a plural verb.

However, this rule (where the verb is determined by the plurality of the object of preposition OF) holds when OF is preceded by one of the SANAM pronouns (Some, all, None, Any, Most)

Some of the coins WERE lost

None of the paintings WERE mine

Some of the dough WAS stolen
Show more


Variety is not a SANAM concept. It is a collective noun. Collective nouns are singular.



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
Moderators:
miag
189 posts
u1983
Current Student
710 posts
MikeScarn
Current Student
275 posts