Thousands of subscribers are already signing up...

[English-test.net]

Answer 4 out of 10
Thousands of subscribers are already signing up for this new telephone service.

Your answer was: incorrect
Thousands of individuals are already signing up for this new telephone service.

I'm afraid you are wrong here. People are not subscribers until *after* they sign up. Until then, the nearest of your 'answers' is 'individuals'.

John Dean
Oxford

[English-test.net]

Hi John,

Thank you for your email and for showing interest in our tests. You raise a very interesting point. I wonder if you could kindly refer me to the exact test so that I can look again at the question concerned.

Best wishes

Alan Townend

[English-test.net]

Hi John.

I've now tracked down the test and see that the choice is individuals, subscribers, interviewees and applicants. Clearly the only two in contention are 'subscribers' and 'individuals' and to my mind 'subscribers' makes best sense because of the link intended between 'service' and 'subscribers'.

As you say, you are not a 'subscriber' until you have 'subscribed' but then I would draw your attention to 'new'. I would make the case that for the sake of this sentence you are already a 'subscriber' for the current service and are now signing up for the 'new' service.

Thanks for your interest.

Best wishes

Alan Townend

[Arh]

Did you saw the verb used in the sentence ? it use present continues but imply an action in the past (by using "already") :

"Thousands of subscribers are already signing up for this new telephone service."

I think this sentence is correct with present perfect form of the verb :

"Thousands of subscribers have already signed up for this new telephone service."