Question

The girls _____ in the garden are my sisters. (Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.)
A. played
B. to play
C. playing
D. on playing
E. are playing

Answer 1

Hint: When the subject and verb of a sentence agree, it is called subject-verb concord. Simply put, if the sentence's subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. If a sentence's subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.

Complete answer:
Gerunds are noun-like words that are formed with verbs. Gerunds are often seen as ending in 'ing.' In this sentence, the word in the blank functions as a noun, being the sentence's subject, as well as a verb, picking up the object.
Therefore, we have to choose an option that is an infinitive (gerund) verb.
Option (A) Played - the verb is in the past tense. But the sentence we identified is in present continuous tense whose verb acts as a noun and ends with gerund form. Thus, the option is the incorrect one.
Option (B) To play - Here, the option ‘to play’ express the action is happening right now. So, it is the present form. They don't act like nouns at all. So, this option also does not fit the sentence.
Option (C) Playing – this option is in the gerund form of the verb acts as a noun. This word explains the action is doing continuously as present continuous. So, this is the best fit for the sentence. Thus, Option C is the right answer.
Option (D) On Playing – this option is also in the gerund form but before the form has preposition ‘on’ and In the question of the subject ‘The girls’ join together is grammatically incorrect. So, This is not fit for the sentence. Thus, Option D is the incorrect answer.
Option (E) is playing – This option is the event happening at the moment but it does not act as nouns. The verb ‘are’ is not included here in the sentence. If we use this sentence to be grammatically incorrect. Thus, this is an incorrect option.

The correct answer is option (C). The sentence is “The girls playing in the garden are my sisters”.

Note: The key verb in the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive. After certain verbs, such as love, fancy, discuss, hate, finish, mind, suggest, recommend, and hold, gerunds can be used; however, we must avoid using gerunds after prepositions of place and time.