Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
He ___________ the rent last Friday.

• A. pays
• B. has paid
• C. was paying
• D. paid

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

paid

The given sentence states an action that took place in the past "last Friday".

Option D: 'Paid' is a past tense verb and states an action that happened in the past: "last Friday". Hence option D is correct.

Option A: 'Pays' is in the simple present tense. It states an action that happens daily or regularly. But, the action has happened only once and that too in the past: "last Friday"

Option B: 'Has paid' is in the present perfect tense. It states an action that has just happened in the present. But the action here has already been completed in the past "last Friday".

Option C: 'Was paying' is a past continuous action. We generally use this tense when another action interrupts the continuous one, while it's taking place. It's also used when the action is happening over a period of time.

The act of 'paying the rent' is not a long, continuous one. It's a short one that starts and ends at that time.

Hence options A, B and C are wrong.