Choose the grammatically correct sentence from the options given below:
(A) He has been sleeping since 3 pm.
(B) He has been sleeping for 3 pm.
(C) He has been sleeping on 3 pm.
(D) He has been sleeping at 3 pm.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A)
Since and for with the perfect continuous tense:
- The present perfect continuous ("has been sleeping") shows an action that began in the past and is still going on.
- It takes:
- Since + a point of time (since Monday, since 2010, since 3 pm).
- For + a period of time (for two hours, for a week).
- "3 pm" is a point of time, so the correct sentence is "He has been sleeping since 3 pm."
Example: It has been raining since morning.
(A) He has been sleeping since 3 pm. — Correct.
- "Since" goes with the point of time "3 pm".
(B) He has been sleeping for 3 pm. — Incorrect.
- "For" needs a period of time ("for three hours"), not a point of time.
- Correct form: He has been sleeping for three hours.
(C) He has been sleeping on 3 pm. — Incorrect.
- "On" is used with days and dates (on Monday), never with clock times.
(D) He has been sleeping at 3 pm. — Incorrect.
- "At 3 pm" marks a single moment ("He was sleeping at 3 pm").
- It cannot show the starting point of an action that continues up to now.
- Correct form: He was sleeping at 3 pm.
Contrast: since + a point of time (since 3 pm), for + a period of time (for three hours).