Q.2 The President, along with the Council of Ministers, ___________ to visit India next
week.
Select the most appropriate option to complete the above sentence.
(A) wish
(B) wishes
(C) will wish
(D) is wishing

The correct answer is (B) wishes.

This sentence tests subject-verb agreement rules in English grammar, specifically how phrases like “along with” affect verb choice. The main subject “The President” is singular, so it requires a singular verb form.​

Option Analysis

• (A) wish: Incorrect as this is the plural form (base verb), which would agree with a plural subject like “Ministers.” Using it here violates singular subject agreement.​

• (B) wishes: Correct. “Along with the Council of Ministers” is a prepositional phrase that adds information but does not change the singular subject’s need for a third-person singular verb (“wishes”).​

• (C) will wish: Incorrect tense. This future form shifts meaning to a prediction, not a current intention fitting “to visit next week.”​

• (D) is wishing: Incorrect as present continuous (“is wishing”) implies ongoing action, unsuitable for a planned future event.​

Grammar Rule Explained

Phrases such as “along with,” “as well as,” “together with,” or “accompanied by” do not compound the subject—they act as parenthetical additions. The verb agrees only with the main subject before the phrase. Examples include: “The Prime Minister, along with his colleagues, has arrived” or “The boss, along with employees, is attending.”​

This rule appears in exams like GATE CE 2025 Set 2, where (B) was confirmed as the answer.​

The President along with Council of Ministers wishes grammar rule highlights a key aspect of subject-verb agreement in English, often tested in competitive exams like GATE and CSIR NET. Understanding why “wishes” fits perfectly helps avoid common errors in verbal ability sections.​

Why “Wishes” is the Right Choice

In the sentence “The President, along with the Council of Ministers, _________ to visit India next week,” “The President” is the singular subject. Phrases like “along with” add details but do not make the subject plural, so the singular verb “wishes” applies. This follows standard rules from Purdue OWL and grammar guides.​

Common Mistakes with “Along With”

• Plural verbs like “wish” tempt due to proximity to “Ministers,” but ignore the main subject.

• Tenses like “will wish” or “is wishing” alter meaning unnecessarily.
  Real-world fixes: “The teacher, along with students, attends the meeting” (singular verb).​

Exam Relevance

This exact question appeared in GATE CE 2025 Set 2, with “wishes” as the answer. Practice similar ones boosts scores in verbal aptitude for CSIR NET Life Sciences too.​