Choose the correct sentence.

Question

Accepted Answer

Here's a detailed explanation for the given question:

**Correct Answer: Option 2**

**Explanation for why Option 2 is correct:**

*   **Collective Nouns and Verb Agreement:** The word "committee" is a collective noun. Collective nouns refer to a group of individuals (e.g., team, family, audience, government). The verb agreement with a collective noun depends on whether the group is acting as a single, unified entity or as individual members.
*   **Acting as a Single Unit:** When a collective noun acts as a single, cohesive unit, it takes a singular verb.
*   **"One on this point":** The phrase "one on this point" clearly indicates that the committee is acting as a unified body, expressing a unanimous opinion or decision. They are in agreement, functioning as a single unit.
*   **Singular Verb "was":** Since the committee is acting as a single unit, it requires a singular verb. "Was" is the singular past tense form of the verb "to be."
*   **Conclusion:** Therefore, "The committee was one on this point" is grammatically correct because the singular verb "was" correctly agrees with the collective noun "committee" when it is understood to be acting as a unified entity.

**Explanation for why other options are incorrect:**

*   **Option 1: The committee were one on this point.**
    *   This option is incorrect because "were" is a plural verb. While collective nouns can take plural verbs when referring to the individual members acting separately (e.g., "The committee were arguing among themselves"), the phrase "one on this point" explicitly signifies unity and agreement. When the committee is acting as a single, unified body, a singular verb is required.

*   **Option 3: The committee was divided on this point.**
    *   This option is grammatically incorrect for the meaning it conveys. "Divided on this point" implies that the individual members of the committee hold different opinions or are acting separately, not as a single unit. When a collective noun refers to the individual members acting separately, it requires a plural verb. Therefore, if the committee were divided, the correct sentence would be "The committee **were** divided on this point." Using "was" (singular) with "divided" (implying individual actions) creates a mismatch.

*   **Option 4: The committee have one on this point.**
    *   This option is incorrect for two main reasons. Firstly, "have" is a plural verb. Similar to Option 1, the phrase "one on this point" denotes unity, which requires a singular verb ("has" in the present tense, or "was" in the past tense as in the correct option). Secondly, "have one on this point" is not the idiomatic or grammatically correct way to express that a group is unified or in agreement on a matter. The correct idiom for expressing unity in the past tense is "was one on this point."