Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
Feeding the stray dogs that sleep outside our gate ______ my grandmother’s job every evening.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → is
An -ing phrase as the subject:
- A phrase that starts with an -ing word can be the subject. It names one activity, so it takes a singular verb.
- The subject is “feeding the stray dogs that sleep outside our gate”, not “dogs”. “That sleep” only describes the dogs. “Every evening” shows a habit now. So the verb is is.
- Complete sentence: Feeding the stray dogs that sleep outside our gate is my grandmother’s job every evening.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: are — Incorrect. “Are” is plural. The -ing phrase names one activity, so it is singular. Example: The stray dogs are sleeping under the car.
Option 2: were — Incorrect. “Were” is plural, but the subject is one activity. Example: The dogs were barking all night.
Option 3: have been — Incorrect. “Have been” is plural, but the subject is one activity. Example: The puppies have been fed.