Question

Complete the conversation using a suitable present verb form:
Sara: Is Ann on holiday this week?
John: No, she ________ (work).
A) Was working
B) Is working
C) Will be working
D) Have worked

Answer 1

Hint: Basically, verb comes in three tenses: past, present and future. The past tense is used to describe the activity that happened already, present tense is used to talk about the thing that is in present and future tense is used to talk about the activity that will happen in the future.

Complete answer:
Here, in this question we have to fill the blank with the present form of the verb or present tense of verb form i.e. present continuous tense. Present continuous tense combines the present tense with the continuous aspect. For example: He is swimming.

Option A) Was working – is an incorrect answer because ‘was working’ is past continuous tense. Past continuous tense describes an action or event that started in the past and is still going in the present. So, Past continuous tense cannot be filled in the blank. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.

Option B) Is working – is the correct answer because ‘is working’ is present continuous tense. Present continuous tense is already described above, thus, we use am, is + ing form of the verb. Thus, this is the correct answer and the best fit in the blank.

Option C) Will be working – is an incorrect answer because ‘will be working is future continuous tense. Future continuous tense is also known as future progressive tense and this is a verb tense that something will occur in the future and continue for an expected length of time. It is formed using the construction will + be + the present participle (the root verb + -ing). So, to fill the blank future continuous is not required, we require present continuous tense and this is an incorrect answer.

Option D) Have worked – is an incorrect answer because ‘have worked’ is present perfect continuous tense, it shows an action that started in the past continued without breaks up until now and is still continuing. So, this is an incorrect answer as we need present continuous tense not present perfect continuous tense. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note:This is a very direct question where we have to complete the conversation using a suitable present verb form i.e. present continuous tense. So, as per the questions demand option B is the most appropriate answer as compared to any other option. The rule of present continuous tense of any verb is composed of two parts - the present tense of the verb to be + the present participle of the main verb.