Fill in the blank: "By the time the concert started, the band _____ fo...
Option B: "had been practicing" is correct. This sentence requires the past perfect continuous tense to convey that the band had been continuously practicing for months before the concert started. The other options do not appropriately express the continuity of the action up to a past event.
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Fill in the blank: "By the time the concert started, the band _____ fo...
Understanding the Correct Answer: Had Been Practicing
In the sentence "By the time the concert started, the band _____ for months," the correct option is "had been practicing." Here's a detailed explanation:
1. Context of the Sentence
- The phrase "By the time the concert started" indicates a specific point in the past.
- This context implies that the action of practicing occurred continuously up to that moment.
2. Grammar Explanation
- The phrase "had been practicing" is in the past perfect continuous tense.
- This tense is used to show that an action was ongoing in the past and was completed before another action (the concert starting).
3. Why Other Options Are Incorrect
- a) practiced: This simple past form does not convey the ongoing nature of the action leading up to the concert.
- c) has been practicing: This present perfect continuous tense implies that the action is still ongoing or relevant to the present, which contradicts the past context.
- d) were practicing: This past continuous tense suggests that the action was happening at a specific time in the past but does not provide the completion aspect needed for the context.
4. Conclusion
- "Had been practicing" effectively communicates that the band engaged in the action of practicing continuously for months, concluding just before the concert began.
- This makes it the most suitable choice for the sentence structure and meaning.
By focusing on the nuances of the tenses used, one can clearly see why option 'B' is the correct answer.