Question

Choose the correct present continuous or perfect continuous form of the verb to complete the sentence:
Juhi and her friend _______ for ten minutes.

• A. has been gossiping
• B. have been gossiping
• C. gossiping
• D. is gossiping

Answer 1

The correct option is B have been gossiping

In order to find out the correct form of the verb needed, let's first understand these tenses. Present continuous tense is used to express an action that is continuing at the moment. Usually, in this case, the start time of the action isn't given. Present perfect continuous tense is used to express an action that has started in the past, continuing in the present, and might go on or end in future. Here, usually, the start or the end time of the action is given. This sentence says - 'for ten minutes'. Since we have the start time of the action and it is unfinished, we will use present perfect continuous tense. Thus the correct option is B - 'Juhi and her friend have been gossiping for ten minutes.' Option A is incorrect, as 'has' can be used when the subject is singular, we have two people in the subject and hence we must use 'have'. Option C is incorrect as it has no auxiliary verb. Option D is incorrect as we can't use present continuous tense here.