Rule -Phrase & Clause acting as Subject alwys tk Singlr

Expert replies

chaitanya.mehrotra: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 184; Joined: Thu Nov 25, 2010 9:57 pmFollowed by: 5 members; Thanked: 1 times; GMAT Score:700

by chaitanya.mehrotra » Sun May 15, 2011 5:41 am

I have read in Manhattan GMAT book that Phrase and Clause acting as Subject alwys tk Singlr Verb. Is this always the case?

Can someone please clarify below two options:

The last chapter of the book is always interesting. { The last chapter of the book - Phrase, so verb is singular...IS}

The last chapters of the book is/are always interesting. { The last chapter of the book - Phrase, so verb is singular...IS but using the EAR...it sounds incorrect and i believe ARE is suitable}

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Sun May 15, 2011 5:41 am

vineeshp: Legendary Member; Posts: 965; Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:52 amFollowed by: 34 members; Thanked: 156 times; GMAT Score:720

by vineeshp » Sun May 15, 2011 7:07 am

The last chapters ... are interesting.

The problem is that "the last chapters of the book" is not a clause.

What the book says is phrase/clause. It should contain a verb.

Doing exerice is good.
Reading books IS good.
Reading a book is good.

Vineesh,
Just telling you what I know and think. I am not the expert.

sameerballani: Legendary Member; Posts: 544; Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:10 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 45 times

by sameerballani » Sun May 15, 2011 11:32 am

chaitanya.mehrotra wrote:I have read in Manhattan GMAT book that Phrase and Clause acting as Subject alwys tk Singlr Verb. Is this always the case?

Can someone please clarify below two options:

The last chapter of the book is always interesting. { The last chapter of the book - Phrase, so verb is singular...IS}

The last chapters of the book is/are always interesting. { The last chapter of the book - Phrase, so verb is singular...IS but using the EAR...it sounds incorrect and i believe ARE is suitable}

You must have read about eliminating the unnecessary(middlemen and warmup) stuff in the sentence. i feel of the book here plays the role of prepositional phrase, so eliminate it. Then it will sound simple/straight forward.

last chapter is interesting and last chapterS are interesting

Jim@Grockit: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 641; Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:07 pmFollowed by: 45 members; Location: Madison, WI; Thanked: 162 times; GMAT Score:760

by Jim@Grockit » Sun May 15, 2011 4:12 pm

vineeshp wrote:The last chapters ... are interesting.

The problem is that "the last chapters of the book" is not a clause.

What the book says is phrase/clause. It should contain a verb.

Doing exerice is good.
Reading books IS good.
Reading a book is good.

This is exactly right, though AND can still make compound (and therefore plural) subjects:

Doing exercise and reading books are good ways to spend your time.

Featured schoolRound 2 closes Jan 7, 2027 65 days left

Chicago Booth

Since 1982, 10 Booth faculty members have received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, more than any other business school.

#3
U.S. News rank: $175,000
Median base salary: 670
Average GMAT Focus: 635
Students in the class

Apply to Booth Visit chicagobooth.edu See the full profile

Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0

GMAT Course Reviews

563 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (563 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review