A 2 min read

The budget for education reflects the administration’s demand that the money is controlled by local school districts, but it can only be spent on teachers, not on books, computers, or other materials or activities.

A. the money is controlled by local school districts, but it can only be spent

B. the money be controlled by local school districts, but it allows them to spend the money only

C. the money is to be controlled by local school districts, but allowing it only to be spent

D. local school districts are in control of the money, but it allows them to spend the money only

E. local school districts are to be in control of the money, but it can only spend it

What does this question test?

This question tests your knowledge of subjunctive verb form.

What does this sentence mean?

This sentence states the conditions of the budget for education.

• Money can be controlled by local school districts
• But there are restrictions on what to spend the money on.  Money can only be spent on teachers, not on books, computers, etc.

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What are the errors in the original sentence?

The sentence has following structure

• Clause 1:  The budget for education reflects the administration’s demand
• Clause 2:  that the money is controlled by local school districts,
• Clause 3:  but it can only be spent on teachers, not on books, computers, or other materials or activities.

This sentence has verb error pertaining to the use of subjunctive verb.  Since Clause 1 uses bossy word – demand, clause 2 should be written appropriately in subjunctive form i.e. “that money be controlled”.

Answer Choice Analysis:

Choice B:  No errors.  Note here that the pronoun “it” in subject of clause 3 refers to the subject of the independent clause 1 – budget.

Choice C:  This choice has the verb error as in choice A.

Choice D:  This choice has the verb error as in choice A.

Choice E:  This choice has the verb error as in choice A.  In addition, this choice has pronoun-antecedent number error because singular pronoun “it” refers to plural “school districts”.

Thus, Choice B is the correct answer.

What are the key take-away messages?

1. Bossy words such as demand require use of subjunctive verb form

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Where can you find more information?

The budget for education…GMATPrepRegister at e-gmat to access Sentence Correction free trial.  For details on subjunctive verb, refer to the concept titled “subjunctive verb” in level 2 of Sentence Correction course.