The time when the apartment building in downtown Milwaukee

Question

The time when the apartment building in downtown Milwaukee started on fire has been determined by the fire department, but what is more problematic to establish are the source of the flame, the mechanism by which it ignited the building, and the extent of the damage.

Choices
A has been determined by the fire department, but what is more problematic to establish are
B has been determined by the fire department, but what is more problematic to establish is
C have been determined by the fire department, but what is more problematic to establish is
D have been determined by the fire department, but what is more problematic to establish are
E are determined by the fire department, but that which is more problematic to establish is

zest4mba · Answer

I thought the answer would be B.The second clause is with an inverted subject connected with conjunction and requires "are" instead of an "is".

Suggestions please

mainhoon · Answer

so can one officially explain what the ans is? A? and why.

metallicafan · Answer

mainhoon: As you can see, in A the author make a list of things that are considered problematic: "...but what is more problematic to establish ARE (1) the source of the flame, (2) the mechanism by which it ignited the building, and (3) the extent of the damage. " Therefore, you need a plural verb because there is not only one problematic thing. zest4mba, please confirm OA. I think I deserve kudos 8-)

vigneshpandi · Answer

Hi,
Please confirm the OA. I too chose B instead of 'A'.

zest4mba · Answer

the answer is B. Although i am also not convinced as i think the answer should be A.

abushey31 · Answer

B. You can easily cross out C-E. So it's between A and B.

If you break the sentence down you'll see two independent clauses. Within the second independent clause, the subject is the clause "what is more problematic to establish", which is singular, and thus the tense of the verb "to be" must agree with this. Must be "is" and therefore B is the correct answer.

Hope that makes sense.

sushma0805 · Answer

not convinced, ans should be A.

"...but what is more problematic to establish ARE (1) the source of the flame, (2) the mechanism by which it ignited the building, and (3) the extent of the damage."

as explained by 'metallicafan'

seekmba · Answer

please check the OA again. It cannot be B.

A it is because what is more problematic to establish are X, Y and Z.

abushey31 · Answer

B is possible. The subject clause "What is more problematic to establish" is singular. To preserve Subject-Verb agreement, you have to use "is." You don't say  The dog are small, brown, and furry.  Subject and verb have to agree regardless of the rest of the sentence.

The time when the apartment building in downtown Milwaukee

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