Identify the underlined segment that contains a grammatical error:
'The dean requested that all department chairs [A: attends] the [B: extraordinary] meeting [C: to discuss] the proposed [D: budget revisions].'

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. attends

  1. Step 1: Identify subjunctive mood requirement: The verb 'requested that' introduces a mandative subjunctive clause.
  2. Step 2: Recall subjunctive rule: In a subjunctive that-clause, the verb must remain in its uninflected base form (bare infinitive) for all persons and numbers.
  3. Step 3: Identify the error: '[A: attends]' carries a third-person singular indicative '-s' suffix; the correct subjunctive form is 'attend'.
Answer
attends.
Why not the others: 'extraordinary' is an adjective correctly modifying 'meeting'; 'to discuss' is a correct infinitive of purpose; 'budget revisions' is a correct compound noun phrase.

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