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by karthikpandian19 » Sun Jul 01, 2012 5:36 pm
Can anyone clarify which sentence form is correct and with reason?


1a. Research and development accounts for most of the company's activity on this floor of the building

1b.Research and development account for most of the company's activity on this floor of the building


2a. Track and field is the most demanding sport at the high school.

2b. Track and field are the most demanding sport at the high school.
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by alex.gellatly » Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:48 pm
karthikpandian19 wrote:Can anyone clarify which sentence form is correct and with reason?


1a. Research and development accounts for most of the company's activity on this floor of the building

1b.Research and development account for most of the company's activity on this floor of the building


2a. Track and field is the most demanding sport at the high school.

2b. Track and field are the most demanding sport at the high school.
1 is a little tricky and it comes down to the meaning. I'm not exactly sure which is correct here. In my opinion, research and development are two different things. However, one could argue that it is one thing. I think it should take a plural verb.

In 2 Track and field is considered one sport. Therefore, it should have a singular verb. Further, the sentence helps you in a way by saying that it's the most demanding sport. There can only be one most demanding sport.
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by karthikpandian19 » Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:19 pm
Can anyone clarify the ambiguity in sentence 1?
karthikpandian19 wrote:Can anyone clarify which sentence form is correct and with reason?


1a. Research and development accounts for most of the company's activity on this floor of the building

1b.Research and development account for most of the company's activity on this floor of the building


2a. Track and field is the most demanding sport at the high school.

2b. Track and field are the most demanding sport at the high school.
Regards,
Karthik
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by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Mon Jul 02, 2012 1:20 am
"Research and development" is treated as a single lexical UNCOUNTABLE item. Therefore, sentence 1b "Research and development accounts for most of the company's activity on this floor of the building" is correct.
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