Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. The rumours usually _________ like wild fire.
spread
Understanding Verb Forms and Subject-Verb Agreement
The question asks us to choose the most appropriate verb form to complete the sentence: "The rumours usually _________ like wild fire." To answer this, we need to consider the subject of the sentence, the tense indicated by the adverb 'usually', and how verbs agree with their subjects in English.
The subject of the sentence is "The rumours". The word "rumours" is a plural noun. The adverb "usually" indicates that the action happens habitually or is a general truth, which requires the simple present tense.
In the simple present tense, the verb form changes depending on whether the subject is singular or plural:
- For singular subjects (he, she, it, a rumour, etc.), the verb usually ends in -s or -es (e.g., spreads).
- For plural subjects (we, you, they, rumours, etc.), the verb uses the base form (e.g., spread).
Let's examine the given options:
- spreading: This is the present participle (V-ing) form. It is typically used with forms of the verb 'be' (is, are, was, were) to create continuous tenses (e.g., are spreading). Standing alone like this, it does not fit the structure required for the simple present tense indicated by 'usually'.
- spread: This is the base form of the verb. For a plural subject ("rumours") in the simple present tense, the base form is used. This fits both the plural subject and the simple present tense indicated by 'usually'.
- spreads: This form of the verb (V+s) is used for singular subjects in the simple present tense (e.g., A rumour spreads...). Since the subject "rumours" is plural, this form is incorrect.
- are spreading: This is the present continuous tense. While grammatically correct as a tense, the adverb 'usually' indicates a habitual action or general truth, which is best expressed using the simple present tense, not the present continuous tense. The present continuous is typically used for actions happening right now or temporary situations.
Based on the analysis of the subject ("rumours" - plural) and the tense required (simple present tense due to "usually"), the correct verb form is the base form, which is "spread".
So, the complete sentence is: "The rumours usually spread like wild fire."
| Subject Type | Tense (with 'usually') | Verb Form (Simple Present) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular (e.g., rumour) | Simple Present | Verb + s/es (spreads) | A rumour usually spreads fast. |
| Plural (e.g., rumours) | Simple Present | Base Verb (spread) | The rumours usually spread like wild fire. |
Revision Table: English Grammar Essentials
| Concept | Explanation | Relevance Here |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | The noun or pronoun performing the action. | "The rumours" is the subject (plural). |
| Verb | A word describing an action, state, or occurrence. | We need the correct form of 'spread'. |
| Simple Present Tense | Used for habitual actions, general truths, facts, scheduled events. | Indicated by 'usually'. |
| Subject-Verb Agreement | The verb form must match the subject's number (singular/plural). | Plural subject "rumours" needs a plural verb form ("spread"). |
Additional Information: Adverbs of Frequency and Tense
Adverbs of frequency, such as 'usually', 'always', 'often', 'sometimes', 'rarely', and 'never', are strong indicators that the simple present tense should be used. They describe how often an action occurs.
For example:
- He always arrives on time. (Simple present with singular subject)
- They often visit their grandparents. (Simple present with plural subject)
- It rarely rains in the desert. (Simple present with singular subject)
Using the simple present tense with adverbs of frequency like 'usually' emphasizes the regular or typical nature of the action, which is exactly what the sentence about rumours spreading like wildfire conveys – it's their usual behaviour.
Important Questions from Miscellaneous
A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a 20 m high building with a speed of 12 m/s. It hits the ground at a distance R from the building. Taking g = 10 m/s2 and neglecting air resistance will give :
A sphere of volume V is made of a material with lower density than water. While on Earth, it floats on water with its volume f1V (f1 < 1) submerged. On the other hand, on a spaceship accelerating with acceleration a < g (g is the acceleration due to gravity on Earth) in outer space, its submerged volume in water is f2V. Then:
A railway wagon (open at the top) of mass M1 is moving with speed v1 along a straight track. As a result of rain, after some time it gets partially filled with water so that the mass of the wagon becomes M2 and speed becomes v2. Taking the rain to be falling vertically and the water stationery inside the wagon, the relation between the two speeds v1 and v2 is :
Consider the following statements:
1. Distance between the longitudes becomes zero on North Pole and South Pole.
2. Distance between the longitudes is maximum on the Equator.
3. Number of longitudes is more than number of latitudes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
One block of 2⋅0 kg mass is placed on top of another block of 3⋅0 kg mass. The coefficient of static friction between the two blocks is 0⋅2. The bottom block is pulled with a horizontal force F such that both the blocks move together without slipping. Taking acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s2, the maximum value of the frictional force is :
