Five dollars ____ a lot of money for a child.
2025
Five dollars ____ a lot of money for a child.
- A.
is
- B.
are
- C.
be
- D.
were
Attempted by 78 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Key rule: Monetary amounts, time periods, and units of measurement are treated as singular subjects and take singular verbs.
Apply to the sentence:
Five dollars is a lot of money for a child.
are — Incorrect because when referring to an amount as a single sum, a singular verb is required. A plural verb like "are" would only be used if emphasizing separate individual bills or items (e.g., "The five dollars were in different pockets").
be — Incorrect because the base form does not function as a finite present singular verb here; the sentence needs the finite singular form "is."
were — Incorrect because this is a past plural form and does not agree in number or tense with the present singular meaning of the sentence.