Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No substitution required’.
The inmates of the house are sleep when the thief entered.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. were sleeping.
- The underlined part of the given sentence is erroneous in nature.
- Since two actions are happening in the past, one after the other.
- Therefore, the tense to be used should have been present continuous tense.
- But the given sentence is in the present perfect tense, which should be changed into the present continuous tense.
- Thus, 'are sleep' should have been replaced with 'were sleeping.'
The correct sentence is:
The inmates of the house were sleeping when the thief entered.