Question

Fill in the blank with the most suitable option.
I’m going to bed when this TV program _____.
a- ended
b- will ends
c- is going to end
d- ends

Answer 1

Hint: We use dependent clauses in the present tense when both the dependent and independent clauses are joined with the help of subordinating conjunctions. For example- when, until, etc.

Complete answer:
As given in the hint, we use the present tense to indicate an action that will take place right now or takes place regularly.
In the given question- We can see the use of two clauses- ‘I am going to bed’ is an independent clause and ‘This tv program ends’ is a dependent clause. Both these clauses have been joined with the help of conjunction, ‘when’.
Here, we have used simple present tense because the clauses have been joined with the help of subordinating conjunction which suggests that the action is about to take place.
Now, let’s examine the given options-
Option a- ‘ended’ is an incorrect option because it is grammatically incorrect and doesn’t produce a logical sentence.
Option b- ‘will ends’ is an incorrect option because it is grammatically inappropriate and doesn’t produce a logical sentence.
Option c- ‘is going to end’ is an incorrect option because we cannot use two consecutive progressive tenses in a single sentence.
Option d- ‘ends’ is the correct option because it helps in producing a logical sentence. The correct answer is Option ‘d’.

Note:
 Let’s look at the structure of the simple present tense; Subject + base form of the verb + es/s + object. For example- She writes a letter to her friend every day.