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ACT English 1.2 Grammar and Usage 559 Views


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Description:

ACT English: Grammar and Usage Drill 1, Problem 2. Does the underlined word match the subject and tense?

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:03

Here's your Shmoop du jour, brought to you by subject verb agreement. Sometimes it doesn't

00:08

have to take years of therapy to come to a mutual understanding.

00:14

What should replace the underlined word below?

00:17

He doesn't know if the book or the pen is in the drawer.

00:25

The clue here is the conjunction "or," which signals that the subject of the sentence is

00:31

one thing, "the book," or the other, "the pen," but not both.

00:36

This makes the subject technically singular even though we're talking about two things.

00:41

We're not talking about some fancy pen-book combo deal that can be read and written with

00:48

simultaneously.

00:50

Since the subject is singular, we know we're looking for a singular verb to go along with it.

00:55

Therefore, we can cross (B) off the list, since "are" is about as plural as it gets.

01:00

(D) is a no-go for the same reason. "Were" is plural and just doesn't fit here.

01:05

Choice (C) get a little closer, since "was" is singular. However, it still doesn't totally

01:09

work because it has some tense issues.

01:12

"He doesn't know" is in the present tense, so the verb we're looking for has to be present

01:18

tense as well.

01:19

"Was" is in the past tense, so it unfortunately doesn't fit the bill.

01:23

This brings us back to choice (A). The original "is" is singular and present tense, suiting our every need.

01:30

Now, what we really want to know is why this guy doesn't just open the drawer to find out

01:33

what's in it.

01:34

Is it really worth sitting around and mulling over?

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