Choose the most appropriate verb to fill in the blank in the following sentence:-
Either Savita or her daughter _____ made this delicious pudding.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → has
Subject-verb agreement with either ... or:
- When two subjects are joined by either ... or (or neither ... nor), the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it.
- This sentence:
- Nearer subject: her daughter, singular, so the verb is singular.
- "Made this delicious pudding" needs the present perfect: has + past participle.
- Complete sentence: Either Savita or her daughter has made this delicious pudding.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: was — Incorrect. "Was made" would be passive (the pudding was made by someone), but here a person is the subject who did the making. "Savita was made this pudding" makes no sense.
Example: The pudding was made by Savita.
Option 2: have — Incorrect. "Have" is plural. With either ... or, the verb follows the nearer subject, "her daughter", which is singular.
Example: Savita and her daughter have made the pudding together.
Option 3: is — Incorrect. "Is made" again forms a passive and does not fit a sentence in which a person is doing the action.
Example: This pudding is made with milk and rice.
Contrast: with "either ... or" the verb follows the nearer subject ("her daughter has"). With "and" the two subjects take a plural verb ("Savita and her daughter have").