Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
Right now, one of the taps in the girls’ washroom ______ leaking again, so the floor is wet.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → is
Subject-verb agreement with “one of the”:
- “One of the” + a plural noun takes a singular verb, because the subject is “one”.
- The subject is “one”, not “the taps”. “Right now” shows the present. So the verb is is.
- Complete sentence: Right now, one of the taps in the girls’ washroom is leaking again, so the floor is wet.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: are — Incorrect. “Are” is plural, but the subject “one” is singular. Example: All the taps in the kitchen are new.
Option 2: was — Incorrect. “Was” is singular, but it shows the past. The sentence is about now (“right now”). Example: One of the buses was late yesterday.
Option 4: were — Incorrect. “Were” is plural, but the subject is singular. Example: The pipes were fixed last week.