Question

Fill in the blank with an appropriate form of the verb given in the bracket:

We started waiting for the bus 20 minutes ago. We're still waiting now.

We _____ (wait) for 20 minutes.

• A. have been waiting / 've been waiting
• B. 's been waiting / has been waiting
• C. 're waiting / are waiting
• D. 've waited / have waited

Answer 1

The correct option is A have been waiting / 've been waiting

In this particular sentence, the blank defines a something that started in the past and is still continuing which is why we would be using the present perfect continuous tense. It (also known as the present perfect progressive tense) shows that something started in the past and is continuing at the present time.

The present perfect continuous is formed using the construction:

has/have been + the present participle (root + -ing)

Option A is the correct form, the sentence being in first person there is usage of have followed by the present participle (Root+ing)

Option B is wrong because, has cannot be used in this case as it is in the first person and has can only be used in case of third person

Option C is an example of present continuous tense

Option D is an example of present perfect tense

Option A is correct