What describes the role of the subject closest to the verb in complex sentences?

In complex sentences, the subject that is closest to the verb plays a crucial role in determining the appropriate form of the verb — whether it should be singular or plural. This is primarily because verbs agree in number with their closest subjects, following the principle of subject-verb agreement.

For example, in a sentence like "The teacher, along with the students, is preparing for the presentation," the verb "is" agrees with the singular subject "teacher," even though "students" appears closer to the verb. This principle of agreement is essential in maintaining clarity and grammatical accuracy in complex sentences, allowing readers to easily identify the action associated with the correct subject.

The other options may seem plausible, but they do not accurately reflect the grammatical rules regarding subject-verb agreement. The relevance of the closest subject to verb choice highlights the importance of understanding sentence structure and its impact on language use.