Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb:
The two openers ______ for nearly three hours when the umpires finally stopped play because of bad light.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → had been batting
Past perfect continuous tense:
- Its form is had been + V-ing.
- It shows an action that went on for some time up to a moment in the past.
- Here the batting went on for nearly three hours until the umpires stopped play.
- Clue word: “for nearly three hours” with the past verb “stopped”.
- Complete sentence: The two openers had been batting for nearly three hours when the umpires finally stopped play because of bad light.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: have been batting — Incorrect.
- “Have been batting” is the present perfect continuous.
- It runs up to now, but the sentence is set in the past (“stopped”).
- Example: The boys have been batting in the nets since noon.
Option 3: were batting — Incorrect.
- “Were batting” is the past continuous.
- It shows an action going on at one past moment, not how long it had gone on before it.
- Example: They were batting when the rain began.
Option 4: batted — Incorrect.
- “Batted” is the simple past.
- It shows a finished action, not one that had been going on up to another past moment.
- Example: Smriti batted well in yesterday’s match.