16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardVerb agreeing with a gerund subject

Standard English Conventions practice question

Counting the votes by hand, as the old rules required, ____ the whole of election night.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. tookCorrect
  2. B. take
  3. C. were taking
  4. D. have taken

Answer: A. took

The subject is the gerund phrase "Counting the votes by hand", which is singular.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. take
Plural, drawn to "votes" or "rules".
C. were taking
Plural.
D. have taken
Plural.

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