The only problem __ that we haven't found the venue for the conference yet.

The only problem __ that we haven't found the venue for the conference yet.

• A. Are
• B. Is
• C. Am
• D. Be

Answer: (B)

The main idea tested is subject-verb agreement with a singular subject. Here, the subject is the singular phrase “the only problem,” and the word “only” doesn’t change its number. So the verb must be singular to match, giving “is.” The rest of the sentence, “that we haven’t found the venue for the conference yet,” is a clause explaining the problem and doesn’t alter the subject’s number. Using “are” would imply multiple problems, which isn’t the case. “Am” is the wrong person, and “be” isn’t the correct finite form here. If the subject were plural, as in “the only problems,” you would use “are.”

The main idea tested is subject-verb agreement with a singular subject. Here, the subject is the singular phrase “the only problem,” and the word “only” doesn’t change its number. So the verb must be singular to match, giving “is.” The rest of the sentence, “that we haven’t found the venue for the conference yet,” is a clause explaining the problem and doesn’t alter the subject’s number. Using “are” would imply multiple problems, which isn’t the case. “Am” is the wrong person, and “be” isn’t the correct finite form here. If the subject were plural, as in “the only problems,” you would use “are.”