Choose the correct verb form to fill in the blank:
Aarav ______ up the stairs to the third floor when his phone slipped out of his pocket.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → was climbing
Past continuous tense:
- Its form is was / were + V-ing.
- It shows a longer past action that was going on when a short past action cut into it.
- Clue word: “when his phone slipped”, a short action in the simple past.
- Complete sentence: Aarav was climbing up the stairs to the third floor when his phone slipped out of his pocket.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: is climbing — Incorrect.
- “Is climbing” is the present continuous: am / is / are + V-ing.
- It shows an action going on now, and it cannot go with the past “slipped”.
- Example: The painter is climbing the ladder now.
Option 3: has been climbing — Incorrect.
- “Has been climbing” is the present perfect continuous: has been + V-ing.
- It shows an action still going on up to now, not one cut short in the past.
- Example: Mohit has been jogging since six.
Option 4: will climb — Incorrect.
- “Will climb” is the simple future.
- It shows a later action, while the phone slipped in the past.
- Example: We will climb to the fort tomorrow morning.