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

Redeem

What is the Subject here ?

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:27 am
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:7 members

What is the Subject here ?

by rahul.sehgal@btgchampion » Sun Feb 09, 2014 8:36 am
I was reading an article and thus came up with this question. The statement is given below -

"The study found that the negative emotional effect of disruptive events - things like being interrupted while in the middle of doing something - were amplified by sleep loss."

I thought, the subject here is 'negative emotional effect'. But, going by the verb 'were', it seems the subject here is 'things'.

Am I missing something in my understanding here with respect to Subject Verb Agreement ?
Best Regards,
Rahul Sehgal
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
Followed by:511 members
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:17 am
Hi Rahul,

This is a badly written sentence. You ARE correct: the subject is "negative emotional effect", which is singular. The verb doesn't match the subject. Assuming we ignore the style issues with the sentence, the author could have solved the problem that you noted by turning the subject into a plural: "negative emotional effects."

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Top
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:27 am
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:7 members

by rahul.sehgal@btgchampion » Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:21 am
Thanks for Clarifying Rich.
Best Regards,
Rahul Sehgal
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pm
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
Followed by:192 members
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sun Feb 09, 2014 12:55 pm
That's a mistake that you can find in a lot of places. I find reading blogs and correcting their grammar to be a decent exercise in going from everyday language to GMAT language.
Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:27 am
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:7 members

by rahul.sehgal@btgchampion » Sun Feb 09, 2014 1:03 pm
I agree Bill. This was one of the articles from Business Insider.

As I was reading, I told myself to focus on understanding the Subject Verb agreement as well and thus came up with the question.

I am planning to start reading more of GMAT style writing material from sources such as The Economist, Scientific American, The Atlantic, Harvard Business Review, etc.

Let me know in case you see any issues with the plan. Thank you for your reply !!
Best Regards,
Rahul Sehgal
Top
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:27 am
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:7 members

by rahul.sehgal@btgchampion » Sun Feb 09, 2014 1:04 pm
I agree Bill. This was one of the articles from Business Insider.

As I was reading, I told myself to focus on understanding the Subject Verb agreement as well and thus came up with the question.

I am planning to start reading more of GMAT style writing material from sources such as The Economist, Scientific American, The Atlantic, Harvard Business Review, etc.

Let me know in case you see any issues with the plan. Thank you for your reply !!
Best Regards,
Rahul Sehgal
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pm
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
Followed by:192 members
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sun Feb 09, 2014 1:11 pm
I think that's a very good plan because it will also help with Reading Comprehension if you use your RC strategy while doing them.

If you're into sports, ESPN.com usually has some grammatical problems with their articles. Lately I've noticed a lot of sentences that give you everything (subject, modifiers, clauses) but no actual verb to pair with the subject :D
Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:27 am
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:7 members

by rahul.sehgal@btgchampion » Sun Feb 09, 2014 1:19 pm
Yes, I do read about sports as well. I normally prefer www.cricinfo.com and it is basically related to Cricket (a sport Indians love playing and seeing :) ).

But, going forward, I will check ESPN.com as well to make sure I am able to spot the errors you specified. Thanks once again for your prompt reply.
Best Regards,
Rahul Sehgal
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1