Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb given in the bracket:
Yesterday, a water pipe ______ (burst) under our street and flooded the whole lane.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → burst
Complete sentence: Yesterday, a water pipe burst under our street and flooded the whole lane. “Yesterday” and “flooded” show the simple past.
| Option | Form and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) bursted | wrong: “burst” is an irregular verb. Its past form is “burst”, and it has no -ed form | – |
| (2) bursts | the simple present form; it shows something that happens now or again and again | This old pipe bursts every winter. |
| (3) burst (answer) | the simple past of burst (to break open suddenly), an irregular verb with the same form in all three: burst – burst – burst | The balloon burst with a loud bang. |
| (4) bursting | the -ing form; it needs a helping verb such as is or was before it | The soap bubbles are bursting one by one. |