Extract:
Which word is used incorrectly in the following sentence?
Everybody pretends to do so, but few truly understands the essay.
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A
pretends
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B
truly
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C
understands
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D
essay
The word "understands" is used incorrectly; the plural subject "few" requires plural verb form "understand" without -s ending.
A) pretends
"Pretends" correctly uses third-person singular -s ending matching singular indefinite pronoun "everybody" (treated as singular). No error affects this verb.
B) truly
"Truly" is correctly used as adverb modifying "understands." No error affects this adverb.
C) understands
"Understands" uses singular -s ending—but the subject "few" is plural (meaning "not many people"). Plural subjects require plural verb forms without -s: "few understand," not "few understands."
D) essay
"Essay" is correctly used as singular noun object. No error affects this noun.
Conclusion
Subject-verb agreement requires plural verbs for plural subjects. "Few" is inherently plural (referring to multiple people), demanding plural verb "understand" without -s ending—opposite the singular treatment required for "everybody" earlier in the sentence.