What is the error in the following sentence? "Over 40 percent of our nation's trash is paper which includes newspaper, magazines, and books, while food scraps and yard waste makes up another 20 percent or so."

What is the error in the following sentence? "Over 40 percent of our nation's trash is paper which includes newspaper, magazines, and books, while food scraps and yard waste makes up another 20 percent or so."

• A. Trash is paper
• B. Includes newspaper
• C. Food scraps and yard waste makes up
• D. No error

Answer: (C)

The sentence contains an error in subject-verb agreement. This occurs when the verb form does not correctly match its subject in number. In the phrase "food scraps and yard waste makes up," the subject is compound (made up of two elements: food scraps and yard waste), which implies a plural subject. Therefore, the verb should be "make" instead of "makes." The correction would lead to "food scraps and yard waste make up another 20 percent or so," ensuring that the plural subject aligns with the plural verb form. This understanding is crucial in maintaining grammatical accuracy and clarity within sentences. In contrast, the other elements in the sentence do not present subject-verb agreement issues, nor do they introduce errors in meaning or structure.

The sentence contains an error in subject-verb agreement. This occurs when the verb form does not correctly match its subject in number. In the phrase "food scraps and yard waste makes up," the subject is compound (made up of two elements: food scraps and yard waste), which implies a plural subject. Therefore, the verb should be "make" instead of "makes." The correction would lead to "food scraps and yard waste make up another 20 percent or so," ensuring that the plural subject aligns with the plural verb form.

This understanding is crucial in maintaining grammatical accuracy and clarity within sentences. In contrast, the other elements in the sentence do not present subject-verb agreement issues, nor do they introduce errors in meaning or structure.