Complete the passage by filling in the blanks with the most appropriate words.
India, as a nation A a rich cultural, scientific, and historical legacy, confers several prestigious awards to honour extraordinary achievements and contributions across different fields. Among these, the highest-ranking awards B special significance, as they represent the nation’s deepest gratitude and recognition of excellence.
Fill in blank (B) with the most appropriate verb form.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
hold
Explanation
The correct verb form is 'hold' because the subject 'the highest-ranking awards' is plural. In the Simple Present Tense, a plural subject takes the base form of the verb without adding '-s' or '-es.' Therefore, the sentence correctly reads, 'the highest-ranking awards hold special significance.'
The other options are incorrect. 'Holds' is used with a singular subject. 'Holding' is a present participle and cannot function as the main verb in this sentence. 'Holed' is the past tense of 'hole' and does not fit the context or meaning.
Key Point
In the Simple Present Tense, singular subjects generally take a verb ending in '-s' or '-es,' while plural subjects take the base form of the verb. Always identify the subject before selecting the correct verb form.