Question 47·Medium·Form, Structure, and Sense
The once–volunteer-run pantry has expanded so rapidly that the list of _____ now fills two entire notebooks.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For this kind of SAT Standard English conventions question, first read the whole sentence and decide what role the blank plays (here, the object of “list of” and the start of a clause). Then quickly check for common grammar issues: whether you need a plural versus possessive noun, whether apostrophes are used correctly, and whether the pronoun and verb agree in number. Eliminate any option with incorrect apostrophes or subject–verb agreement, and choose the remaining option that fits the meaning and structure of the sentence.
Hints
Look closely at the structure after “list of”
Ask yourself: after the words “list of,” do we usually use a possessive noun, or a regular plural noun?
Think about how apostrophes are used
Which choices are using apostrophes to show possession or in places where they don’t belong, like on a simple present-tense verb?
Match the subject and verb
The pantry is referred to as “it.” Which verb form correctly goes with “it”: “serve” or “serves”?
Check for unnecessary possessive pronouns
Does the sentence need a word meaning “belonging to it” right before the verb, or should it go straight from the noun to “it serves”?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the sentence is saying
The sentence describes a pantry that has expanded so much that its list has grown very long: “the list of _____ now fills two entire notebooks.” After “list of,” we expect the thing being listed (the people or groups connected to the pantry). Here, that is the people the pantry helps.
Decide what kind of noun you need after “list of”
After “list of,” we usually use a plain plural noun, not a possessive form. For example, we say “a list of students,” not “a list of student’s.” So in the blank we want a plural noun like “families,” not a possessive like “family’s.” This means any option that turns “family/families” into a possessive with an apostrophe is not appropriate right after “list of.”
Check apostrophes and the verb form
Now look at the rest of each option:
- An apostrophe on the verb “serve’s” is incorrect; regular present-tense verbs do not take an apostrophe.
- The pantry is singular (“it”), so the verb that goes with “it” must be singular: “serves,” not “serve.”
- “Its” (without an apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun meaning “belonging to it,” which doesn’t fit right before a verb. These clues tell you to avoid any option with “serve’s” or “its serves.”
Choose the option that matches all the rules
You need:
- a simple plural noun after “list of” (no apostrophe on “families”), and
- a singular pronoun + verb clause describing who the pantry helps (“it serves”), with no extra apostrophes or possessives. The only option that meets both conditions is “families it serves.”