Choose the correct option to replace the underlined part of the sentence:
The electrician has repaired our inverter yesterday, but it has stopped working again.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → repaired
A finished past time takes the simple past:
- Words like yesterday, last week and in 2019 name a time that is over. With them, we use the simple past.
- The given sentence says “has repaired ... yesterday”. This is wrong: the present perfect does not go with a finished time like “yesterday”.
- Complete sentence: The electrician repaired our inverter yesterday, but it has stopped working again.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: had repaired — Incorrect. The past perfect is used for the earlier of two past actions. There is no second past action here. Example: The electrician had repaired the fan before we came home.
Option 2: has been repairing — Incorrect. “Has been repairing” shows an action that is still going on. It cannot go with a finished time like “yesterday”. Example: The electrician has been repairing the lights in our building since morning.
Option 4: repairs — Incorrect. “Repairs” is the simple present. The action took place yesterday, so a past form is needed. Example: The electrician repairs fans in our colony every Sunday.