Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word form from the given options:-
My pet dog died five years ago. I look at our old pictures whenever I ________ (miss) him.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → miss
Simple present for a habit:
- The simple present describes something that happens again and again.
- Whenever means "every time that", so the clause after it describes a repeated event and takes the same tense as the main verb.
- Clue word: "whenever". The main verb "look" is in the simple present, so the blank is miss.
- Complete sentence: My pet dog died five years ago. I look at our old pictures whenever I miss him.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: am missing — Incorrect. The present continuous describes something going on at this moment, not a repeated habit.
Example: I am missing my friends today.
Option 2: missed — Incorrect. The simple past describes a finished event and clashes with the present habit "I look".
Example: I missed the bus yesterday.
Option 4: had missed — Incorrect. The past perfect is used for an action before another past action. The sentence is about the present.
Example: The train had left before we reached the station.
Contrast: "whenever" marks a repeated habit, so it takes the simple present miss. The present continuous "am missing" describes only this moment.