Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the conversation by choosing the correct option and fill blank (iv).

Master: Sunder ! O Sunder! Where are you? Sunder: Sir, (i)__________________________________________________________ Master: Come here at once. What are you doing in the drawing room? Sunder: Yes, sir. Master: What are you doing in the drawing room (ii)__________________________. Sunder: Sir, (iii)________________________________________ Master: Were you cleaning the drawing room or sleeping in the air conditioned room?

Sunder: Sir, I was not sleeping; (iv)_______________________________.

  1. I was only lying on the floor

  2. I have been only lying on the floor

  3. I had been only lying on the floor

  4. I was only on the floor
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sunder is denying sleeping and offering the alternative of what he was actually doing. Past continuous 'I was lying' correctly describes an ongoing action at that past moment, parallel to 'was not sleeping.' Present perfect 'have been lying' doesn't match the past context, past perfect 'had been lying' needs another past reference, and option D is grammatically incomplete.

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