In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the bracketed part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select "no improvement". New townships (has coming) up with claims of providing several amenities to the people.
are coming
Understanding the Grammar Improvement Question
The question asks us to identify the best alternative to replace the bracketed part "(has coming)" in the sentence: "New townships (has coming) up with claims of providing several amenities to the people." We need to select the option that makes the sentence grammatically correct and improves its flow, or choose "no improvement" if the original sentence is correct.
Analyzing the Original Sentence Structure
Let's look at the key parts of the original sentence:
- Subject: "New townships"
- Verb Phrase: "(has coming) up"
The subject "townships" is a plural noun. In standard English grammar, the verb must agree in number with its subject. A plural subject requires a plural verb form.
The verb phrase "(has coming)" uses the singular auxiliary verb "has" followed by the present participle "coming". This construction is grammatically incorrect. The auxiliary "has" is used with the past participle (e.g., "has come") to form the present perfect tense, or with "been" and the present participle (e.g., "has been coming") to form the present perfect continuous tense.
Evaluating the Improvement Options
Now let's examine each of the given options:
- is coming: This option uses the singular auxiliary verb "is" with the present participle "coming". While "is coming" is a valid verb form (present continuous tense), the auxiliary verb "is" is singular. It does not agree with the plural subject "New townships". Therefore, this option is incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement.
- has come: This option uses the singular auxiliary verb "has" with the past participle "come". While "has come" is a valid verb form (present perfect tense), the auxiliary verb "has" is singular. It does not agree with the plural subject "New townships". Therefore, this option is incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement. Additionally, the phrase "coming up" usually implies a process that is currently happening or about to happen, which is better conveyed by a continuous tense.
- are coming: This option uses the plural auxiliary verb "are" with the present participle "coming". "Are coming" is a valid verb form (present continuous tense), and the auxiliary verb "are" is plural. It agrees with the plural subject "New townships". This form correctly expresses that the townships are currently developing or appearing. Therefore, this option is grammatically correct and fits the context.
- no improvement: As discussed earlier, the original phrase "(has coming)" is grammatically incorrect because of the incorrect verb form and the lack of subject-verb agreement. Therefore, improvement is needed.
Determining the Correct Improvement
Based on the analysis, the option that provides the correct subject-verb agreement and uses a suitable verb tense (present continuous) to describe the ongoing development of the townships is "are coming".
The improved sentence reads:
New townships are coming up with claims of providing several amenities to the people.
Here, the plural subject "New townships" correctly matches the plural verb form "are coming".
Revision Table: Key Grammar Concepts
| Concept | Explanation | Example (Subject-Verb Agreement) |
|---|---|---|
| Subject-Verb Agreement | The verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. | Singular: The dog runs fast. Plural: The dogs run fast. |
| Present Continuous Tense | Formed with a form of 'be' (am, is, are) + present participle (verb + -ing). Used to describe actions happening now or around the time of speaking. | She is reading a book. They are playing football. |
| Present Perfect Tense | Formed with 'has' or 'have' + past participle. Used to describe actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or started in the past and continue to the present. | He has finished his homework. They have lived here for years. |
Additional Information: Common Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
Making sure verbs agree with their subjects is a common area where errors occur. Here are a few things to remember:
- Look for the true subject of the sentence, ignoring phrases that come between the subject and the verb (like prepositional phrases).
- Collective nouns (e.g., team, committee) can be singular or plural depending on whether they are acting as a single unit or as individuals.
- Subjects joined by "and" are usually plural.
- Subjects joined by "or" or "nor" take a verb that agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to the verb.
- Indefinite pronouns like "each," "every," "either," "neither," "one," "nobody," "somebody," etc., are usually singular.
- Indefinite pronouns like "all," "some," "none," "most" can be singular or plural depending on what they refer to.
In the sentence "New townships are coming up...", the subject "New townships" is clearly plural, requiring the plural verb form "are coming".
Important Questions from Phrase Replacement
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select No improvement.
The questions are so simple that a child can understand it .
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select No improvement.
Even children shrink away from food thinking that they should become overweight.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select No substitution required.
The weather reports is prepared by the Meteorological Department of the Government.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select No improvement.
He decided to leave very quickly the hotel.
Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No substitution required’.
I have been worked hard to finish this project.
