Question

Fill in the blank using the appropriate form of the verb.

Usually they play cricket but now they ______ football.

• A. were playing
• B. have been playing
• C. play
• D. are playing

Answer 1

Answer:

D. are playing

• The sentence contrasts a usual activity (playing cricket) with something happening at the moment (playing football).

• "Usually they play cricket" refers to a habitual action in the present, so we use the simple present tense (play).

• "But now they ______ football" refers to something happening right now, so we need to use the present continuous tense, which is formed by the verb "to be" (are) + the -ing form of the verb (playing).

• Therefore, the correct form is "are playing" to indicate that the action is happening right now.