Find the part of the sentence that contains an error: All that is needed for the bill to pass (1)/ are a simple majority (2)/ and a signature from the presiding officer (3)/ to certify the vote. (4)

Correct — B. Find the subject first: All that is needed for the bill to pass. Its own verb, is needed, shows the sentence already treats All as singular.

The main verb must agree with that subject, so are in segment (2) should be is: All that is needed … is a simple majority and a signature.

The two things named after the verb do not make the subject plural → option (b).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  (1) — All that is needed for the bill to pass is the subject and is correct as it stands: all, meaning everything required, rightly takes the singular is needed.
• (c)
  (3) — and a signature from the presiding officer adds the second requirement to a simple majority. Joining two nouns with and after the verb is correct English.
• (d)
  (4) — to certify the vote is an infinitive of purpose: the signature is there to certify the vote. It is idiomatic and needs no change.

A verb agrees with its subject, wherever the subject sits and whatever follows the verb.

Here the subject is a whole phrase, All that is needed for the bill to pass. When all means everything, taken as one whole, it takes a singular verb: All I want is rest. All that glitters is not gold.

The complement after the verb, a simple majority and a signature, names two things. It is not the subject, so the verb does not follow it.

Key facts

• A verb agrees with its subject, not with the words that come after the verb.
• All meaning everything, taken as one whole, takes a singular verb: All I want is rest.
• All counting people or things takes a plural verb: All the members are present.

Common traps

• Letting the two requirements after the verb, a majority and a signature, pull the verb to are
• Suspecting segment (1) because all sounds plural, when its own verb is needed already treats it as singular

No directly related past PYQ was found.