Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option.
“What ____ this evening?” Mary asked.
A) You will do
B) Do you
C) You doing
D) Are you doing

Answer 1

Hint: Tense (noun): a verb-based way for indicating the time of an action or state in relation to the time of speaking, as well as the continuance or completion of an activity or state. The time when an activity occurred determines the tense of a verb. There are four types of tenses: Present tense, past tense, past participle and future tense.

Complete answer:
The present tense is a verb tense that expresses a current action or state of being. The present tense, however, can be used to represent both past and future activities, which is somewhat unique. The tense describes an ongoing action, that is an activity which is still happening. The use of the phrase 'this evening' in the sentence implies that the inquiry was asked in the present. As a result, the correct response must be a present-tense statement. The blank answer must also be in interrogative form because it is part of a question.

Let us analyze the given options:
Option A- You will do: Incorrect option. “You will do” interprets a statement indicating that one is willing to perform what is asked of him/her. Because 'you will do' isn't an interrogative phrase, it can't be used to pose a question therefore it is not an appropriate option.
Option B- Do you: Incorrect option. Because there is no main verb in 'do you,' it is a grammatically wrong phrase. Therefore, it is inappropriate to use this option.
Option C- You doing: 'What are you doing?' is not an interrogative phrase since it lacks an auxiliary at the start. Using it will also render the phrase grammatically improper because it lacks an auxiliary verb.
Option D- Are you doing: Correct option. It is an interrogative phrase that can be used to pose a query. Furthermore, because it is in the present continuous tense, it warrants the inquiry being posed now. It inquiries about the subject's plans for the evening.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘D’. “What are you doing this evening?” Mary asked.

Note: Adverbs of recurring time are frequently expressed in the present simple tense. The present simple tense is used when we want to express a fact or pose a question without referring to a specific time. Many verbs of thinking, feeling, and sensing are expressed in the present simple tense. There are four types of present tense- Simple present tense, present continuous tense, present perfect tense and present perfect continuous tense.

Rules:
1) For simple present tense the rules are:
Singular- Subject + Verb’s form 1 + s/es + Object
Plural- Subject + Verb’s form 1 + Object
2) For present continuous tense the rule is: Subject + is/am/are + Verb’s form 1 + ing + object
3) For present perfect tense the rules are:
Singular: Subject + has + Verb’s form 3 + Object
Plural: Subject + have + Verb’s form 3 + Object
4) For present perfect continuous tense, the rules are as follows:
Singular: Subject + has been + Verb’s form 1 + ing + Object
Plural: Subject + have been + Verb’s form 1 + ing + Object