Question

John _______ cricket right now. (Choose the correct option to complete the given sentence.)
A) Plays
B) Play
C) Is playing
D) Would play

Answer 1

Hint: The given question is to find the right form of the verb for the particular sentence. Some tips for that are:
- Make sure you consider the time of operation when answering questions about tenses because this will help you choose the correct type of verb.
- Other than the current, past, and future tenses, there are also perfect, progressive, and present progressive tenses.
- As a general rule, make sure you use the same verb form in the sentence or text unless the theme or time of action changes.

Complete answer:
Let us analyze the given options:
Option A – The word “plays” denotes the present form of the verb which suits only the present situation of the work to be done, plays is the third-person singular simple present indicative form of play and here right now indicates that the tense should be in present continuous tense. Thus, Option A is not the correct one.
Option B – The word “play” is the simple form of the verb which does not suit the given sentence, it is the first form of the verb. Hence Option B is also not the correct one.
Option C - The phrase "right now" in the sentence implies that the action described in the sentence has begun and is still ongoing, so the verb's tense should be present continuous and “is playing” is the present continuous form of the verb. Hence Option C – is playing the correct one.
Option D – Option D insists on “would play” which is the conditional past form of the verb and in the sentence, the verb should be in present continuous form. Thus, this option is incorrect.

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘C’. Other alternatives, on the other hand, are not in the present continuous form and therefore are incorrect. With third-person singular and plural forms, 'plays' is used, while with first and second person forms, 'play' is used. Though 'will' is used to express subjunctive mood sentences. As a result, choices A, B, and D are wrong.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘C’. Hence, John is playing cricket right now.

Note: The present continuous, also known as the present progressive, is a verb form that combines the present tense with the continuous aspect in modern English. It can be used in the indicative as well as the subjunctive moods. In spoken English, around 5% of verbs are in the present continuous form.