Choose the correct option to fill in the blank.
______ are kind hearted people.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → The Indians
Complete sentence: The Indians are kind hearted people. A quality of the people as a whole is described. The subject is plural, so the verb is plural: are.
| Option | When to use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Indian | "Indian" is singular, but the verb "are" and "people" need a plural subject. As a singular countable noun it would also need an article: "An Indian is ..." | – |
| (2) The Indians (answer) | To speak of a whole nation or people, English uses the + plural nationality name: the Indians, the Japanese, the Americans. With names ending in -sh, -ch, -ese the plural form has no -s: the English, the French, the Chinese. | The Japanese are known for their discipline. |
| (3) An Indians | "An" means one and goes only with a singular noun. It cannot stand before the plural "Indians". | – |
| (4) A Indians | "A" too goes only with a singular noun, and before a vowel sound the form would be "an" in any case. | – |
Contrast: "The Indians" (the whole people) takes a plural verb: The Indians are ... "An Indian" (one person) takes a singular verb: An Indian is ...