Identify the underlined portion containing a grammatical error:
The federal oversight commission recommended (A) that the municipal water board (B) installs (C) advanced filtration barriers prior to the monsoon season (D).
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. (C) installs
Answer: (C) installs. Why not the others: (A) 'recommended' is the standard past indicative matrix verb; (B) is a well-formed subject clause; (D) is an accurate temporal prepositional phrase.
- Step 1: Identify the matrix verb: 'recommended' is a mandative verb governing a that-clause expressing necessity or advice.
- Step 2: In formal academic English, the mandative clause requires the uninflected base subjunctive form 'install'. Part (C) 'installs' improperly uses the third-person singular indicative form.
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