The increase in unemployment rates, coupled with significantly increas

Official Explanation:

First, the subject of the main clause is "the increase in unemployment rates," which is singular. Yet, the verb in the main clause is "are forcing," which is plural. Second, "significantly increased retail prices as well as energy costs" is both awkward and unclear. The logical inference is that the energy costs have increased as well, but this is not clear from the grammar that "significantly increased" modifies "energy costs" in addition to "retail prices." This phrase could also be more elegantly expressed.

(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) The subject of the main clause here is "the increase in rates of unemployment," which is singular, but the verb is "have been forcing," which is plural. However, the replacement of "as well as" with "and" is an improvement over the original sentence because it more clearly links "significant increases" and "energy costs."

(C) CORRECT. The subject of the main clause is "the increase in unemployment rates" and the corresponding verb is "is forcing," which are both singular. The phrase "coupled with significant increases in both retail prices and energy costs" is elegant and clearly links "significant increases" to "energy costs" through the use of "both."

(D) The subject of the main clause is "the increase in unemployment rates" and the corresponding verb is "is forcing," which are both singular. However, the phrase "coupled with significantly increased retail prices as well as energy costs" is still awkward and unclear.

(E) The subject of the main clause is "the increase in unemployment rates" and the corresponding verb is "had been forcing," which are both singular. However, "had

A rapid-fire solution

are and have been are plural verbs. Remove them Remove E for using both as well as; both ... and is only correct.

Significantly increased implies that the prices were significantly increased by someone, which is contrary to the original intention

Therefore, C

the increase singular so here is . both ---. and , it is better . so correct answer is C .

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Thanks for the reply

I understand your point. C is more elegant, parallel and idiomatic compared to D.

What if I say :
unemployment rates, coupled with retail prices as well as energy costs, is ... (is it grammatically correct or we need and instead of as well as. what change in meaning you see, if I replace as well as with and)
unemployment rates, coupled with retail prices and energy costs, is ...

Is there any idiomatic requirement behind C to follow such pattern : Coupled with X and Y ?

The increase in unemployment rates, coupled with significantly increased retail prices as well as energy costs, are forcing many homeowners to look into alternative sources of fuel in order to save money on winter heating.


A. unemployment rates, coupled with significantly increased retail prices as well as energy costs, are

B. rates of unemployment, coupled with significant increases in retail prices and energy costs, have been

C. unemployment rates, coupled with significant increases in both retail prices and energy costs, is

D. unemployment rates, coupled with significantly increased retail prices as well as energy costs, is

E. rates of unemployment, coupled with significant increases in both retail as well as energy costs, had been

I was between C and D, I selected D because it is following original construction and further I dont see any error in this choice.

Kindly explain why C > D ?

I am not sure how C is correct, everything sounds good except for the 'is' at the end. Shouldn't it be 'are' ?

No, because the subject is "increase":

The increase (coupled with blah blah blah) IS forcing homeowners . . .