Last visit was: 17 Jul 2025, 04:56 It is currently 17 Jul 2025, 04:56
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
shobhitkh
Joined: 20 Feb 2018
Last visit: 05 Dec 2019
Posts: 51
Own Kudos:
143
 [70]
Given Kudos: 53
Location: India
Schools: ISB '20
Schools: ISB '20
Posts: 51
Kudos: 143
 [70]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
67
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
GKomoku
Joined: 06 Mar 2018
Last visit: 23 Mar 2022
Posts: 301
Own Kudos:
950
 [18]
Given Kudos: 3,682
Status:To infinity and beyond
Location: Kazakhstan
Concentration: Technology, Finance
GPA: 3.87
Posts: 301
Kudos: 950
 [18]
6
Kudos
Add Kudos
12
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
GKomoku
Joined: 06 Mar 2018
Last visit: 23 Mar 2022
Posts: 301
Own Kudos:
950
 [8]
Given Kudos: 3,682
Status:To infinity and beyond
Location: Kazakhstan
Concentration: Technology, Finance
GPA: 3.87
Posts: 301
Kudos: 950
 [8]
6
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
EpilepticLearner
Joined: 24 Feb 2019
Last visit: 03 Feb 2020
Posts: 44
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 73
Posts: 44
Kudos: 25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can't understand the last is/are, do you know of any similar question i can refer to??
User avatar
AkshdeepS
Joined: 13 Apr 2013
Last visit: 10 Jul 2025
Posts: 1,441
Own Kudos:
1,825
 [3]
Given Kudos: 1,001
Status:It's near - I can see.
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Operations
GPA: 3.01
WE:Engineering (Real Estate)
Products:
Posts: 1,441
Kudos: 1,825
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
shobhitkh
The fact that “dark matter” accounts for over 95 percent of the matter in the universe has been established through analysis of gravity’s effect on light from distant objects, but what is more difficult to determine are the origin, composition, and properties of dark matter.

Using POE :

Subject of first IC is "The fact", so we need a singular verb "Has been" and not plural verb "Have been". Eliminate D and E.

When we see second IC after "but", we can see the SV disagreement. Subject of the second is a clause "What is........", and this means we are talking about something

singular. When clause becomes the subject of the sentence, it is considered "singular". Eliminate A and C.


(A) has been established through analysis of gravity’s effect on light from distant objects, but what is more difficult to determine are

(B) has been established through analysis of gravity’s effect on light from distant objects, but what is more difficult to determine is

(C) has been established through analysis of gravity’s effect on light from distant objects, but what are more difficult to determine are

(D) have been established through analysis of gravity’s effect on light from distant objects, but what is more difficult to determine are

(E) have been established through analysis of gravity’s effect on light from distant objects, but what are more difficult to determine are
User avatar
GKomoku
Joined: 06 Mar 2018
Last visit: 23 Mar 2022
Posts: 301
Own Kudos:
950
 [1]
Given Kudos: 3,682
Status:To infinity and beyond
Location: Kazakhstan
Concentration: Technology, Finance
GPA: 3.87
Posts: 301
Kudos: 950
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EpilepticLearner
Can't understand the last is/are, do you know of any similar question i can refer to??

hello EpilepticLearner

try this threads, there are a lot of good explanations:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-foll ... l#p1698723

https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-period-w ... ml#p727032
User avatar
gvij2017
Joined: 09 Aug 2017
Last visit: 18 Jun 2024
Posts: 675
Own Kudos:
470
 [1]
Given Kudos: 778
Posts: 675
Kudos: 470
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
What he likes much in breakfast is/are an apple, a full glass of milk and two sandwiches.
In my understanding what is modifying the list of three items. So "are" is correct here.

Similarly, in given SC problem, ...but what is/are difficult to determine is/are x, y and z.
I think here what is mentioned for three nouns; therefore, at both places, are is correct.
Whether the clause is singular or plural depends on whether the relative pronoun itself is understood as singular or plural.
Please clear this doubt to avoid further mistakes.
User avatar
gvij2017
Joined: 09 Aug 2017
Last visit: 18 Jun 2024
Posts: 675
Own Kudos:
470
 [1]
Given Kudos: 778
Posts: 675
Kudos: 470
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thanks GKomoku!

Now I am completely agree with your elucidation. And I will keep this in mind while attempting such SC problems.

GKomoku
gvij2017
What he likes much in breakfast is/are an apple, a full glass of milk and two sandwiches.
In my understanding what is modifying the list of three items. So "are" is correct here.

Similarly, in given SC problem, ...but what is/are difficult to determine is/are x, y and z.
I think here what is mentioned for three nouns; therefore, at both places, are is correct.
Whether the clause is singular or plural depends on whether the relative pronoun itself is understood as singular or plural.
Please clear this doubt to avoid further mistakes.

hello gvij2017

I had the same concern when I faced this question, and made a lot of search in the internet and in GC, and came to the conclusion below:

Conclusion: Whenever (noun) clause acts as a subject of the sentence it is always SINGULAR in GMAT irrespective of weather the verb refers to a singular/plural noun.

Your above considerations is correct form general grammar standpoint as Mr. Mike said, but seems here in GMAT it is a little bit straight forward.

Please refer to this thread maybe you find answered that you are searching for https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-period-w ... ml#p727032


EducationAisle

The subject of the sentence that you've stated in your post, is What is difficult to determine. This is itself a clause.

When the subject of a clause itself is a clause, the subject is considered singular.


This is irrespective of whether the verb be refers to a singular/plural noun. I used to know a very specific official example illustrating this point, but somehow am not able to locate it.


That some fraternal twins resemble each other greatly while others look quite dissimilar highlights an interesting and often overlooked feature of fraternal-twin pairs, namely that they vary considerably on a spectrum of genetic relatedness.



Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses this aspect of clauses, along with examples. If someone is interested, PM me your email-id, I can mail the corresponding section.

and some more examples form EducationAisle

What one learns from mistakes (is/are) resilience, will power and courage.
What is very clear from recent debacle of the party in the elections (is/are) lack of leadership, absence of political vision, and discontent among voters.
What statements politicians give (is/are) important.
How many superstitions there are (don’t/doesn't) matter.
That a causal relationship exists between health and labor productivity (has been/have been) concluded by several empirical studies.

hope it will be helpful somehow ;)
avatar
AcetheGMAT2019
Joined: 06 Jul 2018
Last visit: 01 May 2025
Posts: 25
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 104
Location: India
Schools: ISB '21
GMAT 1: 670 Q49 V33
Schools: ISB '21
GMAT 1: 670 Q49 V33
Posts: 25
Kudos: 14
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
generis
but "what is more difficult to determine" - is this the substantive clause?
User avatar
generis
User avatar
Senior SC Moderator
Joined: 22 May 2016
Last visit: 18 Jun 2022
Posts: 5,293
Own Kudos:
36,951
 [2]
Given Kudos: 9,464
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,293
Kudos: 36,951
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AcetheGMAT2019
generis
but "what is more difficult to determine" - is this the substantive clause?
AcetheGMAT2019 , yes, what is more difficult to determine is the substantive clause. (A substantive clause can also be called a noun clause or a nominal clause.)

If you simply wanted confirmation, stop reading. If you want a little more information about substantive clauses, keep reading.

In this post, here, I discuss substantive clauses and provide a link to a good post by Mike McGarry.
Scroll down to the blue bullet point labeled "Substantive clauses."

This grammar article, here contains good examples of the ways in which substantive clauses can function as nouns (subjects, direct objects, appositives, etc.).
The article also lists the words that introduce these clauses. [Ignore the assertion about IF.]
Scroll down to the part titled, "NOUN (OR SUBSTANTIVE) CLAUSES."

Substantive / noun clauses are weird because they contain a verb but are nouns.
Once you get a sense for them, though (by reading examples -- both articles have examples), substantive clauses are pretty easy to spot.

Substantive clauses are almost always singular. (If you have no idea, choose singular!)

The instances in which substantive clauses are plural are unlikely to appear on the GMAT.
I do not recall any such questions.
The article by Mike McGarry discusses the plural exceptions and notes that they are unlikely to show up on the GMAT.
(I have not mined data on this issue. My assertion is impressionistic.)

Hope that helps.
User avatar
chrisbrain2019
Joined: 07 Aug 2019
Last visit: 28 May 2020
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4
Location: Hong Kong
Schools: LBS '22 (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q48 V38
GPA: 3.37
Schools: LBS '22 (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q48 V38
Posts: 15
Kudos: 16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
generis
AcetheGMAT2019
generis
but "what is more difficult to determine" - is this the substantive clause?
AcetheGMAT2019 , yes, what is more difficult to determine is the substantive clause. (A substantive clause can also be called a noun clause or a nominal clause.)

If you simply wanted confirmation, stop reading. If you want a little more information about substantive clauses, keep reading.

In this post, here, I discuss substantive clauses and provide a link to a good post by Mike McGarry.
Scroll down to the blue bullet point labeled "Substantive clauses."

"This grammar article, here contains good examples of the ways in which substantive clauses can function as nouns (subjects, direct objects, appositives, etc.).
The article also lists the words that introduce these clauses. [Ignore the assertion about IF.]
Scroll down to the part titled, "NOUN (OR SUBSTANTIVE) CLAUSES."

Substantive / noun clauses are weird because they contain a verb but are nouns.
Once you get a sense for them, though (by reading examples -- both articles have examples), substantive clauses are pretty easy to spot.

Substantive clauses are almost always singular. (If you have no idea, choose singular!)

The instances in which substantive clauses are plural are unlikely to appear on the GMAT.
I do not recall any such questions.
The article by Mike McGarry discusses the plural exceptions and notes that they are unlikely to show up on the GMAT.
(I have not mined data on this issue. My assertion is impressionistic.)

Hope that helps.

So by the same token, "who is the team members is Peter, Tom and David." and "what makes the team great is the team member's determination, persistence and discipline." are correct?! This is confusing.
User avatar
Kindred17spirit
Joined: 05 Sep 2018
Last visit: 15 Jul 2025
Posts: 12
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 98
Products:
Posts: 12
Kudos: 4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
@e-gmat
Please explain why C is incorrect?
Is it because "what is more difficult to determine" is a clause, hence it is singular?
Or is it because this dependent clause refers to the subject 'dark matter', which is singular?
I'm having trouble approaching this problem.
User avatar
GDT
Joined: 02 Jan 2020
Last visit: 18 Sep 2020
Posts: 247
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 477
Posts: 247
Kudos: 116
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VeritasKarishma

Can you pls explain why in A are is not correct in "difficult to determine are ..."
avatar
deekshakumar
Joined: 13 May 2018
Last visit: 07 Sep 2020
Posts: 1
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can someone please explain why the option is not A. My thinking is that "difficult to determine are" suitable for the three things connected by "and" which makes it plural
User avatar
AkshdeepS
Joined: 13 Apr 2013
Last visit: 10 Jul 2025
Posts: 1,441
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,001
Status:It's near - I can see.
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Operations
GPA: 3.01
WE:Engineering (Real Estate)
Products:
Posts: 1,441
Kudos: 1,825
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
deekshakumar
Can someone please explain why the option is not A. My thinking is that "difficult to determine are" suitable for the three things connected by "and" which makes it plural

Hi, You can feel the difference in A & B if you read the sentences this way.

1. The origin, composition, and properties of dark matter is what is more difficult to determine.
2. The origin, composition, and properties of dark matter are what is more difficult to determine.

I believe in these two versions option 1) looks better.

Though, intuitively "are" looks comfortable as per rules of S-V agreement, but on the GMAT, "Noun clauses" are always considered singular.
User avatar
rsrighosh
Joined: 13 Jun 2019
Last visit: 11 Dec 2022
Posts: 190
Own Kudos:
119
 [1]
Given Kudos: 645
GMAT 1: 490 Q42 V17
GMAT 2: 550 Q39 V27
GMAT 3: 630 Q49 V27
GMAT 3: 630 Q49 V27
Posts: 190
Kudos: 119
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AkshdeepS GKomoku

Just to clarify,

On the table are a plate, a fork and a knife --> correct as underlined is the main subject
What is on the table is a knife, a fork and a plate --> correct as underlined is the main subject and "a knife, a fork and a plate" is the object in the sentcnce ??
User avatar
Solenja
Joined: 23 Sep 2021
Last visit: 16 Jul 2024
Posts: 128
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 257
GRE 1: Q163 V157
GRE 1: Q163 V157
Posts: 128
Kudos: 61
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Like I say usually, I'm not pro at this or even good at this but I'll take a hit
what struck to me at glancing the options is the singular and plural tenses in an uneven manner except for B all other option have this issue, for this reason I pick choice B
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,448
Own Kudos:
Posts: 18,448
Kudos: 954
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7359 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
235 posts