Question

Fill in the blank using an appropriate option:

Sorry I'm late. The car _____ (break) down on my way here.

• A. break
• B. broke
• C. has broken
  
• D. will break
  

Answer 1

The correct option is B broke

The first sentence states a present situation 'I am late'.

The next sentence gives the reason behind being late.

The reason has already happened, hence the current situation 'I am late'.

('I'm' is a contraction of 'I am.)

Hence the sentence will be in past tense.

Option B: 'Broke' is a simple past tense verb and states an action already happened. Hence option B is correct.

Option A: 'Break' is the base verb and does not state what tense it is.

Option C: 'Has broken' is in present perfect tense and states that an action that has just happened. But, the action in the sentence has already happened.

Option D: 'Will break' is in future tense and states an action yet to happen.

The action in the sentence has already happened.

Hence options A, C and D are incorrect.