Question

A pair of shoes were standing in the corner

Answer 1

Answer:

Personification:- the shoes are given the human quality of standing for better poetic effect.

Answer 2

A pair of shoes was standing in the corner. -This is the right answer.

Rectifying error:

• In the question given, we must find out the error in it and also correct it.
• When we are given a sentence to spot the mistake, we must check if there is agreement among the parts of speech in it.
• Especially, the agreement between subject and verb must be looked into.
• Here the noun given is 'a pair of shoes'. The verb used is 'were'. It is wrong.
• Though 'shoes' is plural, we have 'a pair'. So it means that the noun should be considered as one. Thus it is a singular noun.
• A singular noun takes a singular verb and a plural noun takes a plural verb. In this case the singular noun, 'a pair of shoes' must take the singular verb 'was'.
• Therefore the answer is: A pair of shoes was standing in the corner.