BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

SC - Compound subjects - SV agreement

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1665
Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:04 pm
Thanked: 165 times
Followed by:70 members

SC - Compound subjects - SV agreement

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.
Regards,
Karthik
The source of the questions that i post from JUNE 2013 is from KNEWTON

---If you find my post useful, click "Thank" :) :)---
---Never stop until cracking GMAT---
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 435
Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:27 am
Thanked: 48 times
Followed by:16 members

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.
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1665
Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:04 pm
Thanked: 165 times
Followed by:70 members

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
The source of the questions that i post from JUNE 2013 is from KNEWTON

---If you find my post useful, click "Thank" :) :)---
---Never stop until cracking GMAT---
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 646
Joined: Mon May 21, 2012 7:08 am
Thanked: 322 times
Followed by:143 members

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.
Kasia
Senior Instructor
Master GMAT - the #1 rated GMAT course

"¢ If you found my post helpful, please click the "thank" button and/or follow me.

"¢ Take a 7 day free trial and find out why Economist GMAT is the highest rated GMAT course - https://gmat.economist.com/

"¢ Read GMAT Economist reviews - https://reviews.beatthegmat.com/economis ... mat-course
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1