Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Compound Subjects
- Either / Neither
- Each and Every
- Numerical Subjects
- Quantifiers
- Subject Phrases
- Verb Tense
Introduction
Basic English grammar states that every singular subject must be followed by a singular verb. Every plural subject must be followed by a plural verb. However, the GMAT will try to trick you by placing many different nouns before a sentence’s main verb, hiding a sentence’s main subject. Therefore, whenever you see a sentence correction problem, your first objective should be to identify the subject of a sentence.
Example
The medicines derived from the Madagascar periwinkle is cultivated in China as part of a program to integrate traditional herbal medicine into a contemporary system of health care. Incorrect
The medicines derived from the Madagascar periwinkle are cultivated in China as part of a program to integrate traditional herbal medicine into a contemporary system of health care. Correct
In the sentence above, the word “medicines” is the subject of the sentence. The phrase “from the Madagascar periwinkle” is a prepositional phrase and can be mentally eliminated to avoid confusion. Since “medicines” is plural, the verb “is” is incorrect and should be replaced by the verb “are.” Notice how the word placement confuses your inner ear. In normal writing, people typically place a sentence’s subject by the sentence’s main verb. The GMAT will try to deceive you by placing the subject as far away from the main verb as possible, instead placing a noun of different tense by the main verb and tricking your inner ear into thinking that the verb tense is correct. This is a very common trick, so always identify the subject!
Compound Subjects
Example
According to a recent study, California and New York have the highest unemployment rates in the country.
In the sentence above, “California and New York” is the subject; this requires the plural “have” as opposed to “has.” If two nouns joined by the word “and” form the subject of a sentence, the tense is always plural.
Either / Neither
Either/neither is always considered singular
Example
Neither of them was aware of the impending flood of mayonnaise.
Neither the ox nor the wildebeest was found to look particularly decorative in the store window.
However, when a sentence using either/neither has a compound subject joined by the word “or” or “nor,” the verb tense must follow the tense of the second noun.
Example
Neither the purple bottles nor the turnip was quite the right shade of puce.
Neither the turnip nor the purple bottles were quite the right shade of puce.
Each and Every
“Each” and “every” are pronouns that can form the subject of a sentence. These pronouns are always singular. However, be careful to identify whether the subject of a sentence is actually the pronoun or just a regular noun.
Example
Monday is the day when each department head in Marketing activates his or her voice mail; it’s all-day meeting day.
Department heads activate their voicemail on Monday.
Notice the difference moving the position of the indefinite pronoun can make in the examples above. In the first example, “each” refers to “department head” and is singular. However, in the second example, the subject is “department heads” and requires the verb to be plural. Once again, make sure you identify the subject!
Numerical Subjects
Example
The number of species of animals facing extinction is growing everyday.
A number of species are facing extinction everyday.
The difference between using the word “the” and “a” changes tense. Whenever you see the word “number” you should be looking at the article preceding it.
- Numbers greater than “1” are plural.
Example
Three out of four skateboard owners also own a bicycle.
Quantifiers
Example
Most of the people taking the GMAT want to go to business school.
Most of the water contains toxic chemicals.
Whenever the subject of a sentence is a quantifier (ie most, all, none, few, many), the verb tense follows the noun being quantified.
Subject Phrases
Example
That look she gives me when I mess up always sends shivers down my spine.
Sometimes an entire subordinate clause can function as the subject of a sentence. This is always singular. As you may have noticed, identifying the subject of a sentence is the trick to solving most subject verb problems. Practice identifying the subject on every sentence correction you encounter and you’ll never get tricked again!
Verb Tense
Simple present (action goes on now): I sit
Simple past (action happened and is over): I sat
Simple future (action will happen): I will sit
Example
Several people passed by and look at the car accident at the intersection of 9th and lemon ave. Incorrect
Several people pass by and look at the car accident at the intersection of 9th and lemon ave. Correct
Good writing maintains consistent verb tense. Never shift verb tense within the same sentence unless you are trying to show a time relationship between events.
However, the occasion will arise when verb tenses must change as dictated by the timing of actions in a sentence. Most problems with inconsistent verb tense occur with the use of the perfect tenses. The three perfect tenses:
Past perfect: Carolyn had eaten supper when Jack arrived.
(The first action is complete before second action began)
Present perfect: Carolyn has worked for 35 years.
(An action that began in the past but continues into the present)
Future perfect: By Sunday I will have baked 5 dozen cookies
(An action that will be completed at a specific time in the future)
Always note the logical timeline of actions completed in a sentence. Adjust verb tense accordingly.
Example
I used to think I wanted to major in biology. After taking a biology class my first semester, however, I realized that perhaps biology was not for me. I decided not to worry about it and just to take classes that fulfilled my core requirements. I took a journalism class and I loved it. I have decided to major in journalism, and I feel confident that this is the right decision.
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