Choose the best replacement for the bold part of the sentence: The team was beginning to...
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Choose the best replacement for the bold part of the sentence:
The team was beginning to defend their position on the field.
Show answer & explanation
The original sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement. 'Team' is a collective noun that takes a singular verb in American English ('was beginning'), and the pronoun 'their' correctly refers to the team as a collective unit. Options A and B introduce unnecessary modal changes or British usage, while C uses the wrong verb form ('begun' requires an auxiliary verb).
Step-by-step Derivation:
Subject-verb agreement analysis: 'Team' is a collective noun. In American English (standard for most professional assessments), collective nouns take singular verbs. 'The team was beginning' correctly uses singular verb 'was' with the collective noun 'team'. The pronoun 'their' is acceptable because it refers to the team's members collectively. Option A ('could be beginning') changes the modal aspect unnecessarily. Option B ('were beginning') uses a plural verb, which violates American English grammar rules for collective nouns. Option C ('was begun') uses passive voice incorrectly and would require 'being begun' or restructuring. Therefore, no change is required—the original sentence is correct.