Sentence Correction

[BTGmoderatorRO]

Pollution and degradation of the environment is, according to the commission's report, a matter of universal concern.

A. is, according to the commission's report, a matter of universal concern.
B. is, according to the report by the commission, a matter of universal concern.
C. is, according to the report of the commission, matters of universal concern.
D. are, according to the commission's report, universally a matter of concern.
E. are, according to the commission's report, a matter of universal concern

OA is E
should this be a plural or singular verb? I need a response from an Expert. Thanks

[GMATGuruNY]

Pollution and degradation of the environment is, according to the commission's report, a matter of universal concern.

A. is, according to the commission's report, a matter of universal concern.
B. is, according to the report by the commission, a matter of universal concern.
C. is, according to the report of the commission, matters of universal concern.
D. are, according to the commission's report, universally a matter of concern.
E. are, according to the commission's report, a matter of universal concern

A COMPOUND subject is composed of two nouns connected by and:
X and Y.
Generally, a compound subject requires a PLURAL verb.

A, B and C: Pollution and degradation...is a matter
Here, is (singular) does not agree with pollution and degradation (plural).
Eliminate A, B and C.

Generally, an adverb cannot serve to modify a form of TO BE (is, are, was, were, etc.)
Incorrect:
Mary is happily.
The theory was widely.
The boys were strongly.
None of these sentences conveys a logical meaning.

D: Pollution and degradation...are universally a matter.
Here, it is not possible for an adverb such as universally to modify a noun such as a matter.
As a result, the only possible referent for universally (adverb) is the verb in red (a form of to be).
As noted above, an adverb cannot serve to modify a form of to be.
Eliminate D.

The correct answer is E.

[HannahFurr]

GMATGuruNY Sir:

are, according to the commission's report, a matter of universal concern

why" Pollution and degradation of the environment are .....a matter of universal concern" is right?

I am confused with "..... are a matter"

Please explain. Thanks.

[HannahFurr]

Pollution and degradation of the environment is, according to the commission's report, a matter of universal concern.

A. is, according to the commission's report, a matter of universal concern.
B. is, according to the report by the commission, a matter of universal concern.
C. is, according to the report of the commission, matters of universal concern.
D. are, according to the commission's report, universally a matter of concern.
E. are, according to the commission's report, a matter of universal concern

A COMPOUND subject is composed of two nouns connected by and:
X and Y.
Generally, a compound subject requires a PLURAL verb.

A, B and C: Pollution and degradation...is a matter
Here, is (singular) does not agree with pollution and degradation (plural).
Eliminate A, B and C.

Generally, an adverb cannot serve to modify a form of TO BE (is, are, was, were, etc.)
Incorrect:
Mary is happily.
The theory was widely.
The boys were strongly.
None of these sentences conveys a logical meaning.

D: Pollution and degradation...are universally a matter.
Here, it is not possible for an adverb such as universally to modify a noun such as a matter.
As a result, the only possible referent for universally (adverb) is the verb in red (a form of to be).
As noted above, an adverb cannot serve to modify a form of to be.
Eliminate D.

The correct answer is E.

GMATGuruNY Sir:



why" Pollution and degradation of the environment are .....a matter of universal concern" is right?

I am confused with "..... are a matter"

Please explain. Thanks.

[GMATGuruNY]

GMATGuruNY Sir:

are, according to the commission's report, a matter of universal concern

why" Pollution and degradation of the environment are .....a matter of universal concern" is right?

I am confused with "..... are a matter"

Please explain. Thanks.

A plural subject can be equated with a singular noun.
John and Mary are a good team.
Here, John and Mary (plural subject) are equated with a good team (singular).
The verb (are) is plural because the subject (John and Mary) is plural.

OA: Pollution and degradation...are a matter of universal concern.
Here, pollution and degradation (plural subject) are equated with a matter of universal concern (singular).
The verb (are) is plural because the subject (pollution and degradation) is plural.