Question

Fill in the blank with the proper form of the verb as per the subject :
Stephen Hawking.............. continued to write at a prolific rate. (has/have)

Hint:

To check subject-verb agreement, first identify the subject of the sentence. Ask "Who or what is doing the action?". Then, determine if the subject is singular or plural and match the verb accordingly.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The task is to choose the correct form of the verb ('has' or 'have') that agrees with the subject of the sentence.
Step 2: Key Concept: Subject-Verb Agreement:
The basic rule of subject-verb agreement is that a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
- 'has' is a singular verb.
- 'have' is a plural verb (except when used with 'I' and 'you').
Step 3: Identifying the Subject and Applying the Rule:
The subject of the sentence is "Stephen Hawking".
"Stephen Hawking" is a proper noun referring to one person, which makes it a singular subject.
Therefore, the singular verb 'has' must be used.
The complete sentence is: "Stephen Hawking has continued to write at a prolific rate."
Step 4: Final Answer:
The correct verb form is has.