A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive an

[abhinavsingh.iitr]

hi, Ron,

Could you explain why the verb here is "decline" not "declines"? Thanks

the correct sentence is :

A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive antismoking program, California has seen per capita consumption of cigarettes decline from over 125 packs annually to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as that in the nation as a whole.

Because of the use of "has seen"...

yep.

if you still don't see how this works, use the same sort of construction in a much simpler context:

i watched my favorite team won --> incorrect
i watched my favorite team win --> correct

Ron, Extremely sorry to say that the explanation for the use of " Decline " is not correct. Here decline is not a verb at all. Here it is used as an infinitive without to. But in the post you said that " decline " is correct because of the use of " has been" . This explanation ( Wrong explanation ) kept me confused for two days .
Please confirm .

[RonPurewal]

remember, the examples are ALWAYS more important (and easier to understand) than the explanations.

there is no misunderstanding here. if you look at my examples, you'll see that we are talking about exactly the same thing.

the point above is that 'has seen' IS THE VERB, and thus 'decline' is NOT a verb.
similarly, in my examples 'watched' is the verb and 'win' is not a verb.

although you're using terminology that i don't know ('infinitive'), it seems clear that you understand.

[abhinavsingh.iitr]

Thanks Ron... Thanks a lot for the confirmation.
I have learnt so many things from you, not only in Verbal by religiously going through your posts but also for real life situations, especially to remain humble despite literally knowing everything. I hope to get admission in good University of USA. If I get there, I will give you a grand party there.

[RonPurewal]

to remain humble despite literally knowing everything

if the green thing is meant to refer to me personally, then it's quite ironic.

i have VERY little specific knowledge.
my memory is in the lowest percentile of the human population. it was damaged by a head trauma when i was a kid, and it has suffered from long-term sleep deprivation (i got 10-20 hours of sleep per week for about 20 years). it is very, very difficult for me to retain information.

so, i know almost nothing. i'm just good at solving problems, which is orthogonal to 'knowing things'. two totally different skill sets.

this is why i can be an expert on the GMAT—because it requires NO knowledge, beyond written english and elementary mathematics. it's a test of problem solving.

...but, thanks. (:

[ZoeZ42]

if you still don't see how this works, use the same sort of construction in a much simpler context:

i watched my favorite team won --> incorrect
i watched my favorite team win --> correct

Hi RON,
would you please clarify it?
IMO, "WON" and "WATCHED" are simultaneous, if "watched" happens in the past time, then should use "WON",
I think i have a mistake, but i have no idea about it, please help

thanks a lot
have a nice day

>_~

[RonPurewal]

"watched" is the only verb that actually has a tense there. the other verb doesn't have a tense.

I watched Sally go into the building.
I am watching Sally go into the building.
I will watch Sally go into the building.

this "go" is the same as the form you'd find with "to ____" (e.g., "to go", "to win"). it doesn't change, because it doesn't have a tense.

[ZoeZ42]

"watched" is the only verb that actually has a tense there. the other verb doesn't have a tense.

I watched Sally go into the building.
I am watching Sally go into the building.
I will watch Sally go into the building.

this "go" is the same as the form you'd find with "to ____" (e.g., "to go", "to win"). it doesn't change, because it doesn't have a tense.

i see
thanks RON

[RonPurewal]

sure.