Understanding the Correct Answer
In the sentence "They ______ playing football when it started raining," the correct answer is option 'B' – "were." Here’s why:
Subject-Verb Agreement
- The subject of the sentence is "They," which is plural.
- The verb must also be in the plural form to maintain agreement.
Past Continuous Tense
- The phrase "were playing" uses the past continuous tense.
- This tense is formed with "was/were" + present participle (verb-ing), indicating an action that was ongoing in the past.
Context of the Sentence
- In this sentence, the action of playing football was happening continuously until another event (the rain) interrupted it.
- Using "were" indicates that the action was in progress at the moment when it started raining.
Other Options Explained
- Option A (was): This is singular and would be used for a singular subject (e.g., "He was playing"). It doesn’t match "They."
- Option C (is): This is present tense and does not fit since the sentence refers to a past event.
- Option D (are): This is also present tense, which is inappropriate for describing a past continuous action.
Conclusion
Using "were" appropriately communicates that "they" were engaged in the action of playing football when the rain began, highlighting the interruption of their activity. Therefore, option 'B' is the correct choice.