GATE2013 AE: GA-2

Question

The Headmaster ___________ to speak to you. Which of the following options is incorrect to complete the above sentence?

• A.  is wanting
• B.  wants
• C.  want
• D.  was wanting

Comments

The options that are INCORRECT to complete the sentence are "is wanting", "was wanting", and "want".

Wait, let's look closer at the question. It asks for which option is incorrect. In standard English grammar tests, this is a classic trick question about stative verbs. Let's break down the rules so you can see exactly which ones fail and why.

The only grammatically correct option is wants. Therefore, the incorrect choices depend on the angle of the question, but "want" is a glaring error, and "is wanting" / "was wanting" break a major structural rule.

Here is the exact breakdown:

1. Why "want" is incorrect (Subject-Verb Agreement)

The subject is "The Headmaster", which is a third-person singular noun (He/She).

• As we just reviewed in the $V_5$ rule, a singular subject in the present tense must take a verb ending in -s/-es ($V_5$).

• Therefore, "want" ($V_1$) is completely incorrect because it doesn't match the singular subject.

2. Why "is wanting" and "was wanting" are incorrect (The Stative Verb Rule)

The verb "want" is a stative verb (a verb that describes a state of mind, emotion, or desire, rather than a physical action like run or eat).

• The Core Rule: Stative verbs cannot be used in the continuous/progressive forms ($V_4$ with -ing).

• You can feel a want, but you cannot actively look at someone "wanting" something in real-time.

• Therefore, expressions like "is wanting" or "was wanting" are grammatically incorrect in standard English.

Summary for your Revision

• The Headmaster want to speak to you. (Wrong subject-verb match)

• The Headmaster is wanting to speak to you. (Stative verb can't use -ing)

•  The Headmaster was wanting to speak to you. (Stative verb can't use -ing)

•  The Headmaster wants to speak to you. (Perfect standard grammar!)

Answer 1

option C is correct.  

Rule: Subjects and verbs must AGREE with one another in number (singular or plural). Thus, if a subject is singular, its verb must also be singular; if a subject is plural, its verb must also be plural.  

Here headmaster is singular subject so we don't use plural verb 'want' with Headmaster. 

Comments

“Here headmaster is singular subject so we don't use plural verb 'want' with Headmaster. “ 

So option(B) “wants” would be correct, right?, maybe there is typo in answer option C).

Answer 2

Answer B: The headmaster WANTS to speak to you.

Best explanation I found...

I look at this from an old English point of view. I dismiss that time dictates what is proper or not. As in old English, if you were found "wanting" it was used in a negative context, meaning you lacked a skill to do something you attempted. You would not say "I am wanting to learn to ...." whatever. You would say "I want to learn to ....". Yet you could be found wanting if you failed an attempt at something you did not have the skill for. Also for consideration is the premise of saying the most with the least. What takes less to say but conveys the most? "I want ..." or "I am wanting ..."? The use of “want” reduces confusion without using more than is needed to convey the message. Unfortunately as mentioned about the McDonald's ad, we've taught our children via marketing that incorrect use of English is ok. Most people have lost the skill or were never taught to speak English efficiently.

Answer 3

Answer is C 

"want" is a plural verb. So it cannot follow a singular noun "Headmaster".

Comments

Yes right. Answer should be option c because we have to find the incorrect one.

Answer 4

option B

Comments

It says choose the incorrect, I just found it now.