Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
Radha and Sheela have been knowing each other since they were children.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. have known each other.
Correct Phrase: have known each other
Meaning: The verb 'know' is a stative verb, which means it describes a state or condition, not an action. Stative verbs are not used in continuous tenses like “have been knowing.”
Example: They have known each other for many years.
Meaning of the other options:
had knowing themselves: Incorrect tense and reflexive pronoun; “knowing” cannot follow “had” like this.
had been known themselves: Passive structure and reflexive use is incorrect here.
have been know each other: Wrong form – “know” should be in past participle form “known” and continuous tense is wrong with “know.”
Hence, the chosen option is correct.