Question

Fill in the blank with the correct verb to complete the sentence:
Gold as well as silver __________ fallen in price
a. have
b. has
c. is
d. are

Answer 1

Hint: English grammar uses certain rules that would describe time in various ways. There are three main tenses- present tense, past tense and future tense, which have further subdivisions based on the view of time as to how short or long it is, was or will be. But, present tense doesn’t always represent the present time. For instance, I hope she comes tomorrow. Here, it refers to the future action. When looking at a sentence, the form of the verb, if present, can tell us about the tense that should be used. In other cases, it is the sentence structure.

Complete solution:
The verb in the sentence given above is in its past participle form.
Now, looking at the options given above,
a. Have: Since, the past participle form of the verb is used and there are two subjects, the apt word to fill the blank is, have, that is, the word is used in situations with first person, second person and third person plural.
b. Has: This word cannot be used since there are two subjects and not just one. It is used for third person singular.
c. Is: This form cannot be used since the form of the verb is in past participle.
d. Are: It is used in plural conditions, but the above sentence does not have the appropriate tense for the same.
Hence, Option a, is the answer.

Note: Do not hover over has and have, the difference merely, being one that qualifies for third person singular and the latter for third person plural, first person and second person.