Question

Fill in the blank with the verb that agrees with the subject.
Either cash or cheque __________ taken.

• A. am
• B. is
• C. are
• D. had

Answer 1

The correct option is B is

In the given sentence, Use of Correlative conjunction 'Either - or' is used. The rule for the usage of correlative conjunction says that the verb which follows two subjects joined by 'or' must agree with the second subject and not the first. In the given sentence, the second subject is 'cheque' which is singular, therefore a singular helping verb has to be used to agree with it.

From the given options, Option A 'am' is a helping verb which is used with singular subject 'I', Option C - 'are' is a helping verb which is used with plural subject, Option C - 'had' is a helping verb which is used with past participle form of verb to convey past perfect tense'. On the other hand, Option B - 'is' is a helping verb used with singular subject to convey simple present tense. Simple present tense is used to convey a habit, a universal truth a fact or a regular or usual practice. The given sentence conveys a regular practice.

Therefore, the correct helping verb which agrees with the given subject is Option B : is.

The completed sentence, thus, becomes : Either cash or cheque is taken.