What is the verb tense of "is/are met?" I encountered "is/are met" most of the time. Could you please explain this? Is this in present tense?
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2Please provide a sentence to serve as a specific example.– 200_successCommented Sep 11, 2014 at 9:57
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2Is and are are present tense forms.– user230Commented Sep 11, 2014 at 11:44
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2 Answers
Both are present tense. The construction is used when the number (singular versus plural) of the subject of the verb is unknown or can vary: one condition is met, or two conditions are met.
Because what is being said can apply to situations where there is one or more, and the number of the verb would be different depending on the answer, writers of legal documents, forms, etc. provide both forms of the verb so the sentence can be read grammatically.
Redpenner is right, but just to muddy up the waters a bit...
You could say is met is a reflection on the hoped-for present, that has yet to occur, in at least this scenario. Example:
The deal is met when our conditions are met.
The "is met" talks about the singular deal and implies "will be met" because of the when, and "will be" is a future tense of to be. You could even legally replace "is met" with "will be met", here. "Are met" refers to the plural conditions.
So even though it is saying something using the present verb is, it is referring to the situation you will find yourself in, in the future, because of "when", and could be treated as such.
