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Cover the Middle
A hand over the middle, and a reach that is blocked.
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Cover the middle and the pair that must agree is left in the open.
Learner identifies the true subject when a phrase sits between it and the verb, which is where complex sentences break at Band 5.
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Six long subjects. Two of them take a plural verb.
The impact of these policies ___ clear.
The cover test, the distracting noun, and the phrases that add nothing.
The impact
of these policiesis clear.
Put your hand over everything between the subject and the verb. What is left is the pair that has to agree.
Two seconds, and it resolves the hardest case in the chapter.
A hand over the middle, and a reach that is blocked.
Cover the middle and the pair that must agree is left in the open.
Three chains. Name the subject before the verb.
1. The impact of these policies ______ clear.
Cover the middle. The subject is , which is .
So the verb is .
2. One of the main reasons ______ cost.
The subject is , which is .
So the verb is .
3. Students who ______ abroad face higher costs.
The clause refers to , which is .
So the verb is .
Ten sentences. Two take a plural verb.
The impact of these policies ______ (be) clear. →
One of the main reasons ______ (be) cost. →
The list of students ______ (be) long. →
Children who ______ (live) in cities face higher rents. →
The report, along with the figures, ______ (be) attached. →
Each of the countries ______ (have) its own rules. →
The number of jobs in manufacturing ______ (be) falling. →
A range of options ______ (be) available to applicants. →
The effects of pollution on children ______ (be) severe. →
Students who study abroad ______ (face) higher costs. →
Four words between subject and verb, and name the subject.
Topic: public spending.
Write two sentences. In each one, put at least four words between the subject and its verb.
The cost of these measures over ten years has risen.
Then name the subject of each sentence.
One per line.
One per sentence.