6. The followmg question presents a sentence, part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you
find four ways of phrasing the underlined part. Following the requirements of the standard written
English, select the answer that produces the most effective sentence.
Tuberculosis, together with its effects, ranks one of the leading causes of death in India.
(A) ranks as one of the leading causes of death
(B) rank as one of the leading causes of death
(C) has the rank of one of the leading causes of death
(D) are one of the leadmg causes of death

Question Analysis

The sentence is: “Tuberculosis, together with its effects, ranks one of the leading causes of death in India.” The underlined part is “ranks one of the leading causes of death.” We need to choose the option that follows standard written English grammar, particularly subject-verb agreement. The subject is “Tuberculosis, together with its effects,” which is singular because “together with” is a prepositional phrase that doesn’t change the subject’s number— “Tuberculosis” remains the main singular noun.

Option Breakdown

• (A) ranks as one of the leading causes of death
  Correct. “Ranks as” is idiomatic for “is classified as.” The singular verb “ranks” agrees with the singular subject “Tuberculosis.” This produces a clear, effective sentence: “Tuberculosis, together with its effects, ranks as one of the leading causes of death in India.”

• (B) rank as one of the leading causes of death
  Incorrect. “Rank” is plural, but the subject is singular, violating subject-verb agreement. It would imply multiple subjects acting together, which doesn’t fit here.

• (C) has the rank of one of the leading causes of death
  Incorrect. This is wordy and awkward (“has the rank of” is not the natural idiom). It also uses “has,” which is singular and agrees, but the phrasing is ineffective and less concise than (A).

• (D) are one of the leading causes of death
  Incorrect. “Are” is plural, again breaking subject-verb agreement with the singular subject. “Leading” is misspelled as “leadmg,” but even corrected, it’s grammatically wrong.

Correct Answer: (A)

Tuberculosis ranks as one of the leading causes of death worldwide, especially in India, but getting the grammar right in sentences like this is crucial for clear communication. This article breaks down a classic grammar question testing subject-verb agreement: “Tuberculosis, together with its effects, ranks one of the leading causes of death in India.” You’ll discover why option (A) is the best choice, with explanations for every alternative.

Why Subject-Verb Agreement Matters Here

In English, the verb must match the subject’s number (singular or plural). The subject “Tuberculosis, together with its effects” is singular—”together with” adds information but doesn’t pluralize it, like “The book, along with its chapters, is fascinating.” Phrases such as “together with,” “along with,” or “as well as” don’t affect agreement.

• Original issue: “ranks one” misses “as,” making it incomplete.

• Goal: Pick the most effective phrasing per standard written English.

Detailed Option Explanations

Here’s a step-by-step look at each choice:

1. (A) ranks as one of the leading causes of death
   This nails it. “Ranks as” is the standard idiom (e.g., “It ranks as the best”). Singular “ranks” matches the subject, creating a smooth, professional sentence. Perfect for formal writing like reports on leading causes of death in India.

2. (B) rank as one of the leading causes of death
   Wrong verb form. “Rank” (plural) clashes with the singular subject. Use this only for plurals, like “Diseases rank among top killers.”

3. (C) has the rank of one of the leading causes of death
   Grammatically okay (singular “has” agrees), but wordy and unnatural. “Has the rank of” sounds stiff—avoid in concise English. Compare: “ranks as” flows better.

4. (D) are one of the leading causes of death
   Plural “are” doesn’t agree with singular “Tuberculosis.” Also, “one of the leading causes” needs a singular verb anyway. Typo in “leadmg” aside, it’s a clear no.

Real-World Application: Tuberculosis as a Leading Cause of Death in India

Beyond grammar, this sentence highlights a stark fact—tuberculosis (TB) ranks as one of the leading causes of death in India, per WHO data, killing over 400,000 annually. Accurate phrasing in health reports ensures credibility. Practice with similar sentences: “COVID-19, along with variants, ranks as a top threat.”

Quick Tips to Ace Subject-Verb Agreement

• Identify the true subject—ignore interrupting phrases.

• Singular subject? Use singular verb (ranks, is, has).

• Common traps: Collective nouns, phrases like “together with.”

• Test yourself: Rewrite “The team, with its coach, win” → “wins.”

Mastering these rules boosts scores on exams like GRE, GMAT, or English proficiency tests. For more on tuberculosis ranks as one of the leading causes of death or grammar drills, explore resources like Purdue OWL.