Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
He __________ the rent last Friday.
A. Pays
B. Has paid
C. Was paying
D. Paid

Answer 1

Hint:The given sentence refers to something with rent last Friday, that means it is a past event. Therefore, we will use a past form of the relevant verb. Example: We went to the club last weekend. (Past event). From the options given in the question, the verb to be used here is ‘pay’. Therefore, we will look for a simple past form of the verb ‘pay’.

Complete answer:
Let us analyse each option individually to figure out the correct answer.

Pays : This is the simple present form of the verb ‘pay’ which means the action happens daily. As it is clear by the given hint, the action has taken place in the past. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

Has paid: This is the present continuous form of the verb ‘pay’ which means the action has just taken place. As it is clear by the given hint, the action has taken place in the past. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

Was paying: This is the past continuous form of the verb ‘pay’ which means that the action took place over a period of time or was interrupted by another action while this action was occurring. Therefore, this is also not the intended option.

Paid: This is the simple past form of the verb ‘pay’ which means that this action has taken place in the past and is completed by now. This is the form we are looking for as an answer. Therefore, this is the correct option.

Hence, the correct answer is Option ‘D’.

Note: This sentence is a case of simple past tense as an action has happened in the past and is complete by now. The final sentence after implying the answer becomes , “He paid the rent last Friday”. Some more examples of this form are: Example: She came yesterday.
Example: I finished the book a couple of days back.
Example: I called you in the morning.