Choose the correct form of the verb "Read" in the following sentence : I ______ a play by Bernard Shaw.

Question

Accepted Answer

In the given sentence, "I ______ a play by Bernard Shaw," we need to choose the correct form of the verb "read" to complete the sentence appropriately. The correct answer is Option 2: "am reading." Here is the explanation:

1. **Why Option 2 is Correct:**
   - The sentence "I am reading a play by Bernard Shaw" uses the present continuous tense, which is appropriate for describing an action that is currently in progress. The present continuous tense is formed using the present tense of the verb "to be" (am/is/are) followed by the present participle (verb+ing). In this case, "am" is the correct form of "to be" for the subject "I," and "reading" is the present participle of "read." Therefore, "am reading" correctly indicates that the action of reading is happening right now.

2. **Why the Other Options are Incorrect:**
   - **Option 1: "had reading"** - This option is incorrect because "had reading" is not a grammatically correct form in English. The past perfect tense, which uses "had," requires a past participle, not a present participle. The correct form would be "had read," but this does not fit the context of the sentence, which requires a present continuous tense.
   
   - **Option 3: "are reading"** - This option is incorrect because "are" is the form of "to be" used with plural subjects or the pronoun "you." Since the subject of the sentence is "I," which is singular, "am" is the correct form to use, not "are."
   
   - **Option 4: "has read"** - This option is incorrect because "has read" is in the present perfect tense, which indicates an action that has been completed at some point in the past but is relevant to the present. The sentence requires a form that indicates an ongoing action, not a completed one. Therefore, "am reading" is the appropriate choice for the context.

In conclusion, Option 2, "am reading," is the correct choice because it accurately reflects the ongoing nature of the action described in the sentence.