WAEC 2011 English Language · Question 71

One of the window panes … yesterday

Question

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences: One of the window panes.............yesterday

A.were breaking
B.was broken
C.is to be broken
D.have broken

Answer: B. was broken

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question The sentence is: "One of the window panes ............. yesterday." We need the verb form that fits grammatically and in meaning.

Concept: Subject-verb agreement and tense

The subject is "One", not "window panes". "Of the window panes" is just a prepositional phrase. The subject is singular, so it needs a singular verb.
The time marker "yesterday" shows the past tense.
Window panes do not break themselves in this sense. Something broke the pane, so the passive voice works well here.

Step-by-step elimination

A. were breaking: plural verb, which does not agree with the singular subject "One". Wrong.
B. was broken: singular, past tense, passive. It agrees with "One" and fits "yesterday". Correct.
C. is to be broken: this is a future or obligation form and does not fit "yesterday". Wrong.
D. have broken: plural auxiliary, and the present perfect does not go with "yesterday". Wrong.

Answer "One of the window panes was broken yesterday." The correct option is B.

Tip When you see "One of the...", "Each of the...", or "Everyone of the...", ignore the plural noun after "of" and match the verb to the singular head word. Also check time words like yesterday or last week, which call for the simple past, not the present perfect.

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