Select the correct pair of words that complete the given sentence.
In him _______ centred their dreams and their aspirations and he _______ well acquainted with this fact.
(A) was, were
(B) were, was
(C) were, has
(D) were, is
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (B) and (D) only
Subject-verb agreement in an inverted sentence:
- The verb agrees with its subject in number, wherever the subject stands.
- In the first clause the sentence is inverted: the subject "their dreams and their aspirations" comes after the verb. It is plural, so the first blank needs were.
Example: On the table were two letters for you. - In the second clause the subject is "he" (singular), and "acquainted" needs a form of be: was or is.
(A) was, were — Incorrect. "Was" does not agree with the plural "dreams and aspirations", and "he were" does not agree with the singular "he".
Corrected: In him were centred their dreams and their aspirations and he was well acquainted with this fact.
(B) were, was — Correct. "Were" agrees with the plural subject and "he was" with the singular "he"; both clauses are in the past.
(C) were, has — Incorrect. "He has well acquainted" is ungrammatical; "acquainted" here needs a form of "be" (he was / is acquainted).
Corrected: In him were centred their dreams and their aspirations and he was well acquainted with this fact.
(D) were, is — Correct. "Were" agrees with the plural subject and "he is" with the singular "he"; the second clause states a fact that is still true, so the present tense is acceptable.