Choose the correct word to complete the following sentence:
These days, the number of autos waiting outside our metro station ______ much smaller than before.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → is
Subject-verb agreement with “the number of”:
- “The number of” + a plural noun takes a singular verb. The subject is “the number”, which is one figure.
- Here the subject is “the number”, not “autos”. “These days” shows the present. So the verb is is.
- Complete sentence: These days, the number of autos waiting outside our metro station is much smaller than before.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: are — Incorrect. “Are” is plural, but “the number” is singular. “A number of” takes a plural verb. Example: A number of buses are late today.
Option 2: were — Incorrect. “Were” is plural, but the subject is singular. Example: A number of trains were cancelled yesterday.
Option 3: was — Incorrect. “Was” is singular, but it shows the past. The sentence is about now (“these days”). Example: The number of guests was small last year.