Select the option that correctly (and most appropriately) fills in the blank and completes the sentence below.
The new policy ______ radical changes.

Appeared in: DSSSB -28 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

The subject of the sentence, 'The new policy', is a third-person singular noun.
According to the rules of subject-verb agreement in the simple present tense, a third-person singular subject must be paired with a verb that ends in '-s' or '-es'.
'Recommends' is the correct singular verb form that agrees with the subject 'The new policy'.

Option A: This option is grammatically incorrect because it uses two verbs ('is' and 'recommends') for a single subject, which is not a valid verb phrase in this context.
Option C: This is a present participle and cannot function as the main verb of a sentence without an auxiliary verb (like 'is', 'are', 'was').
Option D: This is the passive voice. The sentence requires an active voice where the policy performs the action (recommending). The passive construction cannot take a direct object ('radical changes') in this way.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Subject-Verb Agreement in Simple Present Tense as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Clear and grammatically correct communication is essential in all professional settings, including healthcare, to avoid misunderstandings in reports, patient instructions, and team collaboration.
What if? - If the subject were plural, e.g., 'The new policies,' the correct verb would be 'recommend' (without the -s), as plural subjects take the base form of the verb in the simple present tense.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the subject of the sentence. Here, the subject is 'The new policy'.
Determine if the subject is singular or plural. 'The new policy' is a singular noun.
Recall the rule for subject-verb agreement in the simple present tense: singular subjects (he, she, it, a single noun) take a verb ending in -s.
Examine the options to find the verb form that matches the singular subject.
'Recommends' is the only option that is a singular verb in the simple present tense, making it the correct choice.
Eliminate the other options by identifying their grammatical errors: 'Is recommends' (double verb), 'Recommending' (incomplete verb), and 'Is recommended' (incorrect voice).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q-m7iHv9LfTyCyVc33hhe7

Practise the full DSSSB -28 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.