Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb given in the bracket:
Before Meena could shut the window, a cat had ______ (spring) onto the kitchen shelf.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → sprung
Complete sentence: Before Meena could shut the window, a cat had sprung onto the kitchen shelf. The helping verb “had” comes before the blank.
| Option | Form and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) sprang | the simple past (V2); used without a helping verb such as had | The frog sprang into the pond when we came near. |
| (2) sprung (answer) | the past participle (V3) of spring (to jump suddenly and quickly): spring – sprang – sprung | The goat had sprung over the fence before we could stop it. |
| (3) springed | wrong: “spring” is an irregular verb. It changes its vowel (sprang, sprung) and has no -ed form | – |
| (4) springs | the simple present form; it cannot come after had | Our dog springs up the moment the gate opens. |