Choose the most appropriate combination of words to complete the given sentences:
______ scooter is parked across the workshop gate? The mechanic has ______ patience left, and he says he will call the police if it is not moved.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Whose / little
Complete sentence: Whose scooter is parked across the workshop gate? The mechanic has little patience left, and he says he will call the police if it is not moved. The speaker wants to know who owns the scooter. “Patience” cannot be counted, and the mechanic “will call the police”.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Whose / little (answer) | whose: before a noun, asks about its owner; little: hardly any, a negative sense, with uncountable nouns | Whose team has little chance of winning now? |
| (2) Who’s / a little | who’s: short for “who is”, so it cannot come before a noun; a little: some, a positive sense | Who’s at the door? |
| (3) Which / a few | a few: with countable plural nouns, not with “patience” | The mechanic needs a few spare bolts. |
| (4) Whom / little | whom: a pronoun; stands alone and never comes before a noun | Whom did you meet at the bank? |