Directions: In this section, each sentence is incomplete and is followed by four options. Select one of the four options to complete the sentence. He asked whether either of the brothers _______
was at home
Completing the Sentence: Either of the Brothers Grammar
The question asks us to choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: "He asked whether either of the brothers _______". This is a grammar question focusing on subject-verb agreement, specifically with phrases like "either of + plural noun".
Let's break down the key elements:
- The main clause is "He asked", which is in the past tense.
- The phrase "either of the brothers" is the subject of the clause we need to complete.
The core grammar rule here is about the subject "either". When "either" is used as a pronoun in the structure "either of + plural noun", it refers to one of the two possibilities, treated as a singular entity. Therefore, it requires a singular verb.
Since the main verb "asked" is in the past tense, the verb in the embedded clause (the reported question) should typically be in a past tense form or reflect a state at that past time, while also agreeing in number with the subject "either".
Analyzing the Options
Let's look at the provided options:
- were at home
- are at home
- was at home
- have come home
Now let's evaluate each option based on the rules of subject-verb agreement with "either" and the context of the past tense main verb:
- Option 1: were at home
"were" is a plural past tense verb. This is incorrect because "either" requires a singular verb. - Option 2: are at home
"are" is a plural present tense verb. This is incorrect for two reasons: "either" requires a singular verb, and the main clause is in the past tense ("asked"). - Option 3: was at home
"was" is a singular past tense verb. This correctly agrees with the singular subject "either" and is in a past tense form suitable for the context of the main verb "asked". - Option 4: have come home
"have come home" is a plural present perfect tense verb phrase. While it describes an action completed before the time of speaking (or asking), the plural "have" does not agree with the singular subject "either". (The singular form would be "has come home", but that wasn't an option, and the present perfect might be less suitable than a simple past state like "was at home" in this specific context depending on the exact nuance intended, but the main issue is the plural "have").
Based on the analysis, the only option that provides a singular past tense verb to agree with "either" is "was at home".
The Completed Sentence
Using the correct option, the completed sentence is:
He asked whether either of the brothers was at home.
| Subject Structure | Verb Number | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Either + singular noun (less common) | Singular | Either road leads to the city. |
| Either of + plural noun/pronoun | Singular | Either of the students has the answer. |
| Either... or... (connecting singular subjects) | Singular | Either John or Mary is coming. |
| Either... or... (connecting plural subjects) | Plural | Either the students or the teachers are responsible. |
| Either... or... (mixed subjects) | Agrees with the subject closer to the verb | Either the teacher or the students are responsible. Either the students or the teacher is responsible. |
Revision Table: Key Grammar Points
| Grammar Rule | Application in this Question |
|---|---|
| "Either of + plural noun" takes a singular verb. | "either of the brothers" requires a singular verb (was/is). |
| Reported speech often follows the tense of the reporting verb (or maintains original tense if reporting a timeless truth, but not applicable here). | "He asked" (past tense) suggests the embedded clause should be past tense where possible, or refer to a state at that past time. |
| Combine singular verb requirement with past tense context. | We need a singular past tense verb. "was" is the singular past tense of "to be". |
Additional Information: Related Subject-Verb Agreement Concepts
Understanding subject-verb agreement is crucial for correct sentence structure. Here are a few related concepts:
- Neither of: Similar to "either of," "neither of + plural noun/pronoun" also takes a singular verb. Example: Neither of the solutions is correct.
- None of: With "none of + plural noun/pronoun," either a singular or plural verb is often considered acceptable in informal contexts, though singular is traditionally preferred in formal writing. Example: None of the students was/were absent.
- All of, Some of, Most of: With these phrases followed by "of + noun," the verb agreement depends on whether the noun is countable or uncountable. If the noun is countable plural, the verb is plural. If the noun is uncountable singular, the verb is singular. Example: Some of the water is gone (uncountable). Some of the students are here (countable plural).
Mastering these agreement rules helps in accurately completing sentences and constructing grammatically correct English.
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