CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
By the time we reached the station, the train ___.
A. left
B. has left
C. had left
D. leaves
Correct Answer: C
The earlier of two past actions is expressed with the past perfect: 'had left'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Choose the correct sentence.
A. I have seen him yesterday.
B. I saw him yesterday.
C. I had seen him yesterday.
D. I see him yesterday.
Correct Answer: B
A finished past time expression such as 'yesterday' normally requires the simple past.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Every boy and every girl ___ required to register.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
When 'every' modifies each singular noun joined by 'and', the verb is normally singular.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
There ___ two books and a pen on the desk.
A. is
B. are
C. has
D. was
Correct Answer: B
In standard formal English, the verb agrees with the plural notional subject 'two books and a pen': 'There are...'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The furniture in these rooms ___ expensive.
A. are
B. have
C. is
D. were
Correct Answer: C
'Furniture' is an uncountable singular noun.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The police ___ investigating the case.
A. is
B. are
C. has
D. was
Correct Answer: B
'Police' is normally treated as a plural noun and takes a plural verb.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
None of the information ___ useful.
A. are
B. were
C. have been
D. is
Correct Answer: D
'Information' is uncountable and singular, so 'is' is correct.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Many a student ___ this mistake.
A. make
B. have made
C. makes
D. are making
Correct Answer: C
'Many a + singular noun' takes a singular verb.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
More than one candidate ___ applied for the post.
A. have
B. has
C. are
D. were
Correct Answer: B
'More than one + singular noun' generally takes a singular verb.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
One of the boys ___ absent.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
Correct Answer: B
'One' is the subject and is singular, so 'is' is required.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The captain, along with his players, ___ ready.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
The true subject is 'captain'. Phrases introduced by 'along with' do not affect subject–verb agreement.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Bread and butter ___ his usual breakfast.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
When two nouns joined by 'and' refer to one combined idea or dish, a singular verb may be used.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Ten kilometers ___ a long distance to walk in this heat.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have been
Correct Answer: C
A measurement considered as one unit takes a singular verb.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The news ___ surprising.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
'News' is grammatically singular despite ending in -s.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Mathematics ___ my favorite subject.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have been
Correct Answer: B
Names of academic subjects ending in -s, such as 'mathematics', normally take a singular verb.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
The number of applicants ___ increasing every year.
A. are
B. have been
C. is
D. were
Correct Answer: C
'The number of' is treated as singular, so 'is increasing' is correct.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
A number of students ___ absent today.
A. is
B. was
C. are
D. has
Correct Answer: C
'A number of + plural noun' takes a plural verb: 'are'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Each of the players ___ a certificate.
A. have received
B. has received
C. were receiving
D. receive
Correct Answer: B
'Each' is singular and takes a singular verb: 'has received'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Either the teachers or the principal ___ attending the meeting.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Correct Answer: C
With 'either...or', the verb agrees with the nearer subject. 'Principal' is singular, so 'is' is correct.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Sentence Structure and Correction
Neither Ali nor his friends ___ ready.
A. is
B. was
C. are
D. has
Correct Answer: C
With 'neither...nor', the verb usually agrees with the nearer subject. 'Friends' is plural, so 'are' is correct.