Verbal Ability - Sentence Improvement - Discussion

According to the American Heritage Dictionary of English Usage:.

When a noun phrase contains more than one and a singular noun, the verb is normally singular: There is more than one way to skin a cat. More than one editor is working on that project. More than one field has been planted with oats. When more than one is followed by of and a plural noun, the verb is plural: More than one of the paintings were stolen. More than one of the cottages are for sale. When more than one stands alone, it usually takes a singular verb, but it may take a plural verb if the notion of multiplicity predominates: The operating rooms are all in good order. More than one is (or are) equipped with the latest imaging technology.

Grammar rule : Sentences with "More than one + Noun" although sounds and is plural but is considered as singular and thus followed by a singular verb not a plural, moreover the answer mentioned here does not conform to subject-verb agreement i.e. When the subject in the sentence is singular the verb is also singular, here the subject is a Noun (person) not more than one.

Correct form is : More than one person was killed in an accident.

Form is : [More than one]+ [Noun-person]+[singular verb in past tense-was]+[helping verb-killed].

IT DOESN'T CONFORM WITH SUBJECT-VERB AND HENCE IT IS INCORRECT AND UNRELIABLE.

More than indicates a plural sense but it is treated as a sort of compound of one. Thus it agrees with a singular noun and takes a singular verb. I think answer is D is absolutely correct.

Yes I agree with @Dastagiri and @Ashish option D is right. If the sentence is like given below then option A would be correct.

"More persons than one were killed in accident".

The sentence should take singular verb.

Reason being person is singular and according to rule more than one should take singular if noun is singular.

Because. The expression 'many a/an, more than one' should be followed by a singular noun and singular verb.

Yes we use singular countable noun in place of were. Since the person is singular. So option D is correct.

Though more than one is plural its a grammar rule to use singular verb in the sentence isn't it?

(D) is correct.
'more than one' takes a singular verb. (Exceptional rule).

According to me, the sentence should be; More than one workmen was killed.