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I wrote these sentences:

"I think my work is so relevant to my application because teaching English language gave me a valuable opportunity to study English closely and to have a very solid understanding of its grammar, syntax, semantics , pragmatics, phonetics and etc, which I think is an essential foundation for anyone who wishes to tackle the field of translation and gain professional skills".

The problem is the word "is" ... Is it "is" because "essential foundation" is singular or should I use "are" because I am speaking about grammar, syntax, etc.?

I think "is" is right because I do speak about grammar, syntax and etc. as one thing or idea which is the "essential foundation".

I am not sure about this.

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    I would say "is", because you're saying a very solid understanding ___ an essential foundation. "A very solid understanding" is singular, so it should be "is", not "are". Don't be fooled by "syntax, semantics, pragmatics, etc." - the subject of the clause is "a very solid understanding".
    – stangdon
    Commented Apr 14, 2016 at 3:19
  • Also, not "phonetics and etc," but "phonetics, etc,"
    – user3169
    Commented Apr 14, 2016 at 3:29
  • @ user3169, thank you .. a good and useful remark.
    – Gamal Thomas
    Commented Apr 14, 2016 at 3:32
  • As user3169 has said, I would just like to elaborate that you don't say 'and et cetera' because 'et cetera' is a direct translation which already includes the word 'and'. Literally, it means 'and other things', or 'and so forth'. Some synonyms are: and so on and so forth, and the rest, and/or the like, and/or suchlike, and/or more of the same, and/or similar things, etc.
    – Inazuma
    Commented Apr 14, 2016 at 5:56

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The important thing is, what is "which" referring to? What is the "essential foundation"? It isn't the syntax, semantics, etc. which are the "essential foundation"; it's the understanding of the grammar, syntax, semantics, etc. which is an essential foundation.

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  • Correct, By "which" I mean the understanding of grammar, syntax, etc, and its this understanding which is " the essential foundation".
    – Gamal Thomas
    Commented Apr 14, 2016 at 16:42
  • So the subject is the "understanding of grammar, syntax, etc." and this is a simgular subject that needs "is" ... Correct?
    – Gamal Thomas
    Commented Apr 14, 2016 at 16:44
  • Yes. That is correct.
    – zondo
    Commented Apr 14, 2016 at 22:53

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