Form, Structure, and Sense Flashcards

The children on the school bus _______ singing songs during the entire trip to the museum.

Answer: were

'Children' is plural, so the plural past verb 'were' is correct.

The new policy requires that every employee _______ a yearly performance review.

Answer: complete

After 'requires that,' the subjunctive mood is used; the subjunctive form is the base verb 'complete' (without -s).

The professor asked the students to revise _______ essays by Friday.

Answer: their

'Students' is plural, so the plural possessive pronoun 'their' is correct.

__________ the lab results arrived, the doctors had already begun treatment based on their initial diagnosis.

Answer: Before

'Before' correctly indicates that the treatment began prior to the arrival of the lab results, showing a logical time sequence.

The data from the three independent studies _______ consistent with the original hypothesis.

Answer: are

'Data' is a plural noun (singular: datum); it takes the plural verb 'are.'

The novel's protagonist, a young woman from a small village, _______ determined to become a celebrated scientist.

Answer: is

The subject 'protagonist' is singular; the appositive ('a young woman from a small village') restates but doesn't change the subject.

The board of directors, after hours of contentious debate, _______ voted to approve the merger.

Answer: has

'Board' is a singular collective noun, and with 'has voted,' the present perfect correctly conveys a recently completed action.