They ---- volleyball when I saw them.a)are playingb)playc)playedd)were...
Saw is past tense of see and the sentence is given in past tense so the aanswer should be D ..were playing .
They ---- volleyball when I saw them.a)are playingb)playc)playedd)were...
The correct answer is option 'D' (were playing).
Explanation:
The given sentence is in the past tense, indicating that the action occurred in the past. The verb "saw" is in the past tense, and the sentence mentions that the action was happening simultaneously when the speaker saw them. Therefore, we need to use the past continuous tense to indicate an ongoing action in the past.
Past Continuous Tense:
The past continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that was happening in the past. It is formed by using the past tense of the verb "be" (was/were) and adding the present participle form of the main verb (-ing).
Example:
- I was studying when she called me.
- They were playing soccer in the park.
Application to the Given Sentence:
In the given sentence, the action of playing volleyball was happening when the speaker saw them. Therefore, we need to use the past continuous tense "were playing."
Eliminating Incorrect Options:
- Option 'a' (are playing) is incorrect because it uses the present continuous tense, which is not appropriate for a past event.
- Option 'b' (play) is incorrect because it uses the simple present tense, which does not convey the ongoing nature of the action in the past.
- Option 'c' (played) is incorrect because it uses the simple past tense, which does not convey the ongoing nature of the action.
Conclusion:
The correct answer is option 'D' (were playing) because it correctly uses the past continuous tense to indicate an ongoing action in the past.