Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
At the moment, the family next door ______ arguing among themselves about where to spend the Puja holidays.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → are
Subject-verb agreement with a group word:
- A group word like “family”, “team” or “committee” takes a singular verb when the group acts as one. It takes a plural verb when the members act separately.
- The clue is “among themselves”. It shows that the family members are arguing with one another. So “the family” here means many people, and the verb is plural.
- “At the moment” shows the present. So the verb is are.
- Complete sentence: At the moment, the family next door are arguing among themselves about where to spend the Puja holidays.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: is — Incorrect. “Is” is singular. It is used when the group acts as one unit. Here the members argue with one another (“among themselves”). Example: Our family is moving to its new flat next month.
Option 3: were — Incorrect. “Were” is plural, but it shows the past. The sentence is about now (“at the moment”). Example: The players were tired after yesterday’s match.
Option 4: was — Incorrect. “Was” is singular, and here the members act separately. Example: The family was away in Shimla last May.