Foundation
English
Tenses
Tenses
Tenses
Question
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
_____ they rented it before you called?
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Solution
In the given sentence, the word 'rented' indicates that the tense of the sentence is past tense. Also, 'rented' is an incomplete verb and requires an auxiliary to complete it. Thus, the answer must be an auxiliary verb in its past tense.
Option A is incorrect. 'How' is an interrogative pronoun and not an auxiliary verb. Thus, it cannot be the answer.
Option B is incorrect. 'Who' is an interrogative pronoun and not an auxiliary verb. Thus, it cannot be the answer.
Option C is incorrect. 'Did' is an auxiliary verb in the past tense but, it makes the tense of the sentence simple past. According to the rules of usage, in simple past tense, if the auxiliary is in the past tense then the main verb has to be in its present form. Thus, using 'did' will make the sentence grammatically incorrect.
Option D is correct. 'Had' is an auxiliary in the past tense. It makes the tense of the sentence past perfect. According the rules of usage, in the perfect tenses the main verb has to be in its past participle form. Thus, it justifies the presence of the word 'rented'. Therefore, it is the correct answer.