Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
Since last Monday, there ______ no complaints about the water supply in our building.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → have been
Subject-verb agreement with “there”:
- In a sentence that begins with “there”, the verb agrees with the noun that comes after it.
- Here that noun is “no complaints”, which is plural. “Since last Monday” needs the present perfect. So the verb is have been.
- Complete sentence: Since last Monday, there have been no complaints about the water supply in our building.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: has been — Incorrect. “Has been” is singular, but “no complaints” is plural. Example: There has been a long queue at the ration shop since morning.
Option 3: were — Incorrect. “Were” is plural, but it shows only the past. A time that began in the past and goes on till now (“since last Monday”) needs “have been”. Example: There were four goats on the road yesterday.
Option 4: was — Incorrect. “Was” is singular, but “no complaints” is plural. Example: There was a stray cow in our lane last night.