Question

Which of the phrases of option 1,2,3 and 4 given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold in the sentence to make it grammatically correct?
Every age and every country had seen and admired exceptional people, recognizing them as saints in the sense of being distinct from the average human being.

• A. has seen and admired
• B. have seen and admired
• C. seen and admired
• D. no correction required

Hint:

Subject-Verb Agreement Rule:
"Every [Singular Noun] and every [Singular Noun]" always takes a singular verb (e.g., has, is, does).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question tests subject-verb agreement and the correct application of tenses.
The subject of the sentence features compound singular nouns modified by the distributive adjective "every".
Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the subject-verb agreement rule for "every":
- When two singular nouns (such as "age" and "country") are joined by "and" but are each preceded by the distributive adjective "every", the compound subject is treated as grammatically singular.
- Therefore, any verb or auxiliary verb that follows must agree with a singular subject.
- The present perfect tense is appropriate here because it describes an action that began in the past and continues to be true in the present.
The singular present perfect auxiliary is "has", while the plural is "have".
Let us evaluate the options:
- Option (B) "have seen and admired" is incorrect because "have" is a plural auxiliary.
- Option (C) "seen and admired" is incorrect because it lacks a helping verb, leaving the main verb incomplete.
- Option (D) "had seen and admired" (past perfect) is incorrect because it implies the action was completed in the past and is no longer relevant, which contradicts the continuous, universal nature of the statement.
- Option (A) "has seen and admired" correctly uses the singular auxiliary "has" in the present perfect tense to agree with the distributive subject.

Step 2: Final Answer:
The correct grammatical choice is Option (A).