Identify a common subject-verb agreement error.

• A. The list of items are on the desk.
• B. The list of items is on the desk.
• C. The list of item is on the desk.
• D. The lists of items is on the desk.

Answer: (B)

Subject-verb agreement means the verb must match the subject in number. Here, the main noun is “the list,” which is singular, so the verb should be singular as well. The phrase “of items” is a prepositional detail describing what the list contains and does not change the number of the subject. Therefore, the correct sentence uses the singular verb: “The list of items is on the desk.”

The other options flip the number or create awkward meaning. “Are” with a singular subject breaks the rule. “The list of item is on the desk” technically matches in number but sounds off because it suggests a list of a single item, which isn’t the intended plural idea. “The lists of items is on the desk” uses a plural subject with a singular verb, which also breaks agreement.