Meaning of detract

[Guest]

Test No. incompl/advan-80 "GMAT Words", question 9

The government are erecting concrete blocks around the Houses of Parliament to ......... the buildings against possible terrorist attacks.

(a) defend
(b) distract
(c) defer
(d) detract

Test No. incompl/advan-80 "GMAT Words", answer 9

The government are erecting concrete blocks around the Houses of Parliament to defend the buildings against possible terrorist attacks.

Correct answer: (a) defend
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please, could you tell me the meaning of detract?

[Alan]

Hi,

Detract means take importance away from/take emphasis away from. Example:

Although the play was not very good, this shouldn't detract from the good acting.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Party Conferences

[jean]

Why did you use are when your subject was government?

jean

[Alan]

Hi Jean,

The noun government is one of those collective words that can use a singular or plural verb as in: The government is /are raising taxes again this year. The football crowd is/are getting very excited. The audience always listens/listen very carefully to this music.

It depends if you think the noun represents one entity or a group of individuals.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Book Expressions