Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
By the time the bus reached Shimla, half of the passengers ______ fast asleep.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → were
Subject-verb agreement with “half of”:
- After “half of”, the verb agrees with the noun that follows it. A plural noun takes a plural verb.
- Here the noun is “the passengers”, which is plural. “Reached” shows the past. So the plural past form is were.
- Complete sentence: By the time the bus reached Shimla, half of the passengers were fast asleep.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: was — Incorrect. “Was” is singular, but “the passengers” is plural. Example: Half of the cake was eaten before the party began.
Option 2: are — Incorrect. “Are” is plural, but it shows the present. The sentence is about the past (“reached”). Example: Half of the shops in this lane are closed today.
Option 4: is — Incorrect. “Is” is singular, but “the passengers” is plural. Example: Half of the work is done.