Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb given in the bracket:
As soon as Raju dropped the heavy stone into the well, it ______ (sink) straight to the bottom.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → sank
Complete sentence: As soon as Raju dropped the heavy stone into the well, it sank straight to the bottom. “Dropped” puts the action in the past, and the stone went down straight after it.
| Option | Form and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) sunk | the past participle (V3); used only after a helping verb such as has, have or had | The old ferry had sunk before help arrived. |
| (2) sinked | not an English word: “sink” is irregular (sink – sank – sunk) | – |
| (3) sank (answer) | the simple past: an action finished in the past; used on its own, with no helping verb | The paper boat sank in the first big puddle. |
| (4) sinks | the simple present, with he, she or it | A stone sinks in water, but a piece of wood floats. |