Question

Sking is an example of a sport that (is, are) best leamed as a child.

Short answer

The correct answer is 'is'. The sentence should be: 'Skiing is an example of a sport that is best learned as a child.'

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Subject

The subject of the sentence is 'Skiing'. In English grammar, the subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something.

Understand Verb-Subject Agreement

In English, verbs and subjects must agree in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular too. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

Choose the Correct Verb Form

As 'Skiing' is a singular subject, the singular form of the verb should be used. The choices are 'is' and 'are', where 'is' is singular, and 'are' is plural. Therefore, 'is' is the appropriate match for the singular subject 'Skiing'.

Key concepts

Singular Subjects

Singular subjects in English represent a single entity. They refer to one person, place, thing, or idea. Understanding singular subjects is crucial for forming proper sentences with correct verb agreements. Here are some examples of singular subjects:

• Person: The teacher
• Place: The city
• Thing: The book
• Idea: Freedom

The entity must clearly be a singular one for the sentence structure to follow appropriate grammar rules.
In the sentence from the exercise, 'Skiing' is the singular subject. "Skiing is an example of a sport that is best learned as a child.". This example helps to illustrate how subjects that are singular in meaning should be paired with singular verbs to create a coherent sentence.

Singular Verbs

Singular verbs are used when composing sentences with singular subjects, a vital aspect of maintaining verb-subject agreement. English requires that the verb matches the subject in number. This leads to more meaningful sentences and clarity in communication. Here are few types and examples of singular verbs:

• State of being verbs: is, was
• Action verbs: runs, swims, sings

It is important to recognize that the form of the verb changes based on the subject's number. For instance, in the exercise sentence, "is" is used as it is the singular form suitable for the singular subject, 'Skiing'. Singular verbs will often end in 's' when used in the present simple tense, as seen with verbs like "runs" or "sings".

Subject Identification

Subject identification is essential to ensure proper sentence structure and grammatical correctness. Identifying the subject involves analyzing the sentence to determine who or what it is about.
Here are some tips to help identify the subject easily:

• Look for the noun that is carrying out the action.
• Ask who or what the sentence is about.
• Check if it is the main component of the sentence.

In our example, the subject identification process reveals that 'Skiing' is the subject. This involves examining the sentence to see that 'Skiing' is being discussed as an example of a sport that should be learned in childhood. Knowing how to correctly identify the subject will aid in accomplishing accurate verb-subject agreements.

English Grammar Rules

English grammar rules are the foundational guidelines ensuring that sentences are structured in a way that is understood by readers and listeners. These rules cover a range of topics, including verb-subject agreement, tenses, and punctuation. Key points related to verb-subject agreement include:

• An essential rule is matching the verb with its subject in number.
• Singular subjects require singular verbs, while plural subjects need plural verbs.
• Verbs change form to match the number and person of the subject.

Adhering to these rules can transform a sentence from incorrect to correct and clear. In the example given, the grammar rule applied ensures the sentence reads correctly as 'Skiing is an example of a sport.' Such verb-subject agreement is necessary in everyday communication for clarity and accuracy.