Question

Choose the best option to complete the sentence given below:
None of the clocks _____ in a working condition.
a) was
b) were
c) is
d) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: A verb is a content word that denotes an action, occurrence, or state of existence. It is the word class that serves as the predicate of a sentence.

Complete answer:
In the given question, the noun ‘clocks’ is plural. Therefore, the verb adjoining it should also be a plural form. Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question:
Option (a.), 'was', refers to the third-person singular simple past tense indicative of be.
Therefore, option (a.) is incorrect as the verb should be in the plural form and not singular.
Option (b.), ‘were', refers to the third-person plural simple past tense indicative of be.
Therefore, option (b.) is correct as the given verb ‘were’ is in the plural.
Option (c.), ‘is', refers to the simple present tense form of be.
Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as the verb should be in the plural form and not singular.
Option (d.), ‘none of the above', says that none of the other options are correct.
Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as option (b.) is correct.

Note:
In this question, it will be helpful for the student to recall the verb ‘be’. ‘Be’ is a verb that means to have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun). The copula is an equating verb (such as `be' or `become') that links the subject with the complement of a sentence.