The passage below describes subterranean fungal networks in forests. Read the passage and identify the correct present-tense forms of the verbs 'to be' (for the first blank) and 'to depend' (for the second blank) that maintain proper subject-verb agreement. What are the correct verb forms to fill in the blanks?
Answer:Beneath the forest floor, a complex network of fungal threads known as mycelium connects the roots of various plants. This subterranean web of connections, which facilitates the sharing of nutrients and chemical warning signals among different species, 【is】 essential to the survival of the forest. Indeed, the vitality of the older canopy trees, as well as that of the younger saplings, 【depends】 heavily on this underground exchange.
Answer
The correct verbs are 'is' for the first blank and 'depends' for the second blank.
The correct verbs are 'is' and 'depends' because the subject of the first blank is the singular noun 'web' and the subject of the second blank is the singular noun 'vitality'. In both cases, plural nouns inside intervening phrases ('connections', 'species', 'trees', 'saplings') do not alter the grammatical number of the main subject.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Subject-Verb Agreement
Estimated Time:1m 30s