Read the passage and answer the following question: Japan is often admired around the world for its high level of discipline and social order. From childhood, Japanese people are taught to respect rules, value punctuality, and prioritise community welfare over individual interests. This cultural emphasis on discipline has played a major role in Japan’s remarkable progress and social harmony. One can see examples of discipline in everyday life, people stand in neat lines at stations, streets are clean despite a lack of dustbins, and public spaces are rarely damaged. The Japanese education system also strongly focuses on moral training, teamwork, and responsibility. Such habits help develop a sense of collective responsibility among citizens. During times of crisis, such as natural disasters, the discipline of Japanese people becomes even more evident. They remain calm, organised, and cooperative, which makes recovery faster and more effective. This cultural value has not only strengthened their society internally but has also earned Japan a reputation for efficiency and respect on the global stage. In the sentence: “The Japanese education system also strongly focuses on moral training, teamwork, and responsibility,” why is the verb “focuses” used instead of “focus”?
Because “system” is a singular subject
The question asks why the verb form 'focuses' (with an -s) is used instead of the base form 'focus'.
This is a matter of subject-verb agreement: a verb must agree in number with its subject. A singular subject takes a singular verb (which, in the present simple, ends in -s), while a plural subject takes the base form.
We must find the true subject of the verb. The subject of 'focuses' is 'The Japanese education system', and the head noun is 'system', which is singular.
Because 'system' is a singular (third-person, present-tense) subject, the verb must take the -s form: 'system focuses', just as we say 'he focuses' rather than 'he focus'.
'Training' (Option 1) is part of the object, not the subject, so it cannot decide the verb form. 'Education' being uncountable (Option 3) is irrelevant, as it only modifies 'system'. The sentence is active, not passive, so Option 4 is wrong.
Thus the -s ending is required purely because the singular subject 'system' governs the verb.
Therefore 'focuses' is used because “system” is a singular subject.
Similar Questions
Which of the following sentences uses the word "bank" with the same meaning as in the following sentence?
"The river overflowed its bank after the storm."
Which of the following sentences uses the word "desert" with the same meaning as in the following sentence? "We had to desert the ship after the engine failed"
Which of the following sentences uses the word "close" with the same meaning as in the following sentence?
"Please be sure to close the door when you leave"
Which word can best replace spell?
They were caught in a spell of silence, each deep in thought.
In the sentence:
“The Japanese education system also strongly focuses on moral training, teamwork, and responsibility,”
why is the verb “focuses” used instead of “focus”?
Important Questions from Correct Usage of Word
Select the segment in which a word has been INCORRECTLY used.
Is the Abominable Snowman a friction of the mountaineers’ imagination?The officer under suspension felt intimated by the committee members during his interrogation regarding the allegations against him.
Amongst them all, she was the only one with the perquisite to understand the complexity of the situation.
At the official function organised for the attending dignitaries, guests arrived in scrumptious attire for the banquet.
The lake atop the mountain has always been the lyre for intrepid hikers.
