Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
I still remember the two nurses from the city hospital who ______ looking after my grandmother when she was in the ICU last year.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → were
Subject-verb agreement after “who”:
- The verb after “who” agrees with the noun that “who” stands for.
- Here “who” stands for “the two nurses”, not “the city hospital”. “Nurses” is plural, and “last year” shows the past. So the verb is were.
- Complete sentence: I still remember the two nurses from the city hospital who were looking after my grandmother when she was in the ICU last year.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: was — Incorrect. “Was” is singular, but “who” stands for “nurses”, which is plural. Example: The nurse who was on duty gave me a glass of water.
Option 2: is — Incorrect. “Is” is singular, but “who” stands for “nurses”, which is plural. Example: The girl who is singing is my cousin.
Option 3: are — Incorrect. “Are” is plural, but it shows the present. The sentence is about the past (“last year”). Example: The nurses who are on duty today are very kind.