A sentence is divided into four parts (A), (B), (C) and (D). Point out the part that has an error:
(A) You are learning English
(B) for the last one year
(C) but you show
(D) no improvement at all.

Question

A sentence is divided into four parts (A), (B), (C) and (D). Point out the part that has an error: 
(A) You are learning English 
(B) for the last one year 
(C) but you show 
(D) no improvement at all.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is Option 1, which points to part (A) of the sentence as having an error.

**1. Explanation for why Option 1 (A) is correct:**

Part (A) of the sentence, "You are learning English," uses the Present Continuous tense. However, the subsequent phrase in part (B), "for the last one year," indicates a duration of time that started in the past and continues up to the present. When an action began in the past and is still ongoing, especially when a duration is specified using "for" or "since," the Present Perfect Continuous tense is required, not the Present Continuous tense.

The Present Continuous tense ("are learning") is typically used for actions happening at the moment of speaking or for temporary situations. In contrast, the Present Perfect Continuous tense ("have been learning") is used to describe an action that started at some point in the past and is still continuing. Therefore, to correctly express the idea that the learning started a year ago and is still ongoing, part (A) should be "You **have been learning** English." The use of "are learning" with "for the last one year" creates a grammatical inconsistency, making part (A) the error.

**2. Explanation for why the other options are incorrect:**

*   **Option 2 (B) - "for the last one year":** This part is grammatically correct. The phrase "for the last one year" is a standard and correct way to express a duration of time, and it appropriately signals the need for a perfect continuous tense in the preceding clause. It is not an error itself but rather highlights the error in the tense used in part (A).

*   **Option 3 (C) - "but you show":** This part is grammatically correct. "But" is a conjunction used to introduce a contrasting idea, and "you show" is in the simple present tense, which is appropriate for stating a general fact or a current state of affairs (lack of improvement). There is no grammatical error in this phrase.

*   **Option 4 (D) - "no improvement at all":** This part is grammatically correct. "No improvement at all" is a perfectly valid and common phrase used to emphasize a complete lack of progress. It correctly completes the meaning of the clause introduced by part (C).