Choose the correct word to complete the following sentence:
Right now, a number of students ______ waiting outside the exam hall for the gates to open.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → are
Subject-verb agreement with “a number of”:
- “A number of” means “many”. So it takes a plural verb.
- “A number of students” means many students. “Right now” shows the present. So the verb is are.
- Complete sentence: Right now, a number of students are waiting outside the exam hall for the gates to open.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: is — Incorrect. “Is” is singular, but “a number of students” is plural. Example: The number of students in our class is forty.
Option 3: was — Incorrect. “Was” is singular, but the subject is plural. Example: The hall was full yesterday.
Option 4: were — Incorrect. “Were” is plural, but it shows the past. The sentence is about now (“right now”). Example: A number of trains were late last week.