Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
Please do not ring the bell. The baby ______ for only twenty minutes, and she was awake half the night.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → has been napping
Present perfect continuous tense:
- Its form is has / have been + V-ing.
- It shows an action that began in the past and is still going on now.
- Clue word: “for only twenty minutes”, and “Please do not ring the bell”.
- The baby is still asleep now.
- Complete sentence: Please do not ring the bell. The baby has been napping for only twenty minutes, and she was awake half the night.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: naps — Incorrect.
- “Naps” is the simple present.
- It shows a habit, not how long an action has gone on up to now.
- Example: The baby naps after lunch every day.
Option 2: napped — Incorrect.
- “Napped” is the simple past.
- It shows a finished action, but the baby is still asleep.
- Example: She napped for an hour yesterday.
Option 4: was napping — Incorrect.
- “Was napping” is the past continuous.
- It shows an action going on at a past moment, not up to now.
- Example: The baby was napping when the guests arrived.