Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement: 'The team of researchers was' or 'The team of researchers were'?

Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement: 'The team of researchers was' or 'The team of researchers were'?

• A. The team of researchers was.
• B. The team of researchers were.
• C. The team of researchers is.
• D. The team of researchers are.

Answer: (A)

Subject-verb agreement with collective nouns and phrases like “of researchers.” The word “team” is a single entity, so the verb must match in number to that singular subject, and the extra words “of researchers” don’t change that. In this sentence, using the singular past form “was” correctly aligns with the team treated as one unit. Using the plural form “were” would imply multiple individuals within the team, which doesn’t fit the subject as written. The present-tense forms “is” and “are” would be correct if the sentence were in the present tense, but the given past-tense option with the singular subject is the right match.

Subject-verb agreement with collective nouns and phrases like “of researchers.” The word “team” is a single entity, so the verb must match in number to that singular subject, and the extra words “of researchers” don’t change that. In this sentence, using the singular past form “was” correctly aligns with the team treated as one unit. Using the plural form “were” would imply multiple individuals within the team, which doesn’t fit the subject as written. The present-tense forms “is” and “are” would be correct if the sentence were in the present tense, but the given past-tense option with the singular subject is the right match.