Choose the correct word to complete the following sentence:
Last Diwali, a lot of crackers from the roadside stall ______ damp and would not light.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → were
Subject-verb agreement with “a lot of”:
- After “a lot of”, the verb agrees with the noun that follows it. A plural noun takes a plural verb.
- Here the noun is “crackers”, which is plural. “The roadside stall” is not the subject. “Last Diwali” shows the past. So the verb is were.
- Complete sentence: Last Diwali, a lot of crackers from the roadside stall were damp and would not light.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: is — Incorrect. “Is” is singular, but “crackers” is plural. Example: A lot of milk is sold at this booth every morning.
Option 2: was — Incorrect. “Was” is singular, but “crackers” is plural. Example: A lot of time was wasted in the queue.
Option 3: are — Incorrect. “Are” is plural, but it shows the present. The sentence is about the past (“last Diwali”). Example: A lot of shops are closed today.