Question

The bird ____ away when it saw the approaching predator.

• A. Flew
• B. Was flying
• C. Has flown
• D. Will fly

Hint:

To handle verb tenses in dependent clauses:
- Use simple past for sequential past actions: "She ran when she saw the dog."
- Use past continuous for ongoing actions: "She was running when she saw the dog."
- Keep tenses consistent: Don’t mix future or present perfect with past in this context.
- Focus on cause-and-effect: "When" often pairs with simple past for cause-and-effect in the past.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To determine the correct verb phrase for the sentence "The bird \underline{\hspace{1cm}} away when it saw the approaching predator," we need to analyze the verb tense and the relationship between the two clauses in the sentence.
This question tests your understanding of verb tenses in dependent clauses and how actions in the past relate to each other.
Step 1: Understand the Sentence Structure
The sentence has two clauses:
- Main clause: "The bird \underline{\hspace{1cm}} away."
- Dependent clause: "when it saw the approaching predator."
The dependent clause "when it saw the approaching predator" uses the verb "saw," which is in the simple past tense, indicating that the predator’s approach happened at a specific time in the past.
The main clause describes the bird’s action (flying away) in response to seeing the predator, so we need a verb tense that matches the past time frame and the sequence of events.
Step 2: Analyze Option A - "Flew"
Option A suggests the verb "flew," making the sentence: "The bird flew away when it saw the approaching predator."
The verb "flew" is in the simple past tense, which describes a completed action in the past.
The sequence of events is:
- The bird saw the predator (past action: "saw").
- The bird flew away (past action: "flew").
In English, when two actions happen one after the other in the past, both verbs are often in the simple past tense, especially with a conjunction like "when" that indicates a cause-and-effect relationship.
For example:
- "She ran when she heard the noise." (Both verbs in simple past.)
- "He left when the meeting ended." (Both verbs in simple past.)
Here, "The bird flew away when it saw the predator" indicates that seeing the predator caused the bird to fly away, and both actions are completed in the past.
Option A seems correct, but let’s check the other options.
Step 3: Analyze Option B - "Was flying"
Option B suggests the phrase "was flying," making the sentence: "The bird was flying away when it saw the approaching predator."
The phrase "was flying" is in the past continuous tense, which describes an ongoing action in the past.
It often sets the scene for another event that interrupts or happens at the same time.
For example: "I was reading when the phone rang." (The ongoing action "was reading" is interrupted by "rang.")
In this sentence, "The bird was flying away when it saw the approaching predator" reverses the cause-and-effect relationship: it implies the bird was already flying away when it saw the predator, which changes the meaning.
The intended meaning is that seeing the predator caused the bird to fly away, not that the bird was already flying.
While "was flying" is grammatically possible, it doesn’t match the intended cause-and-effect relationship as naturally as the simple past "flew."
Let’s keep option B in mind but check the others.
Step 4: Analyze Option C - "Has flown"
Option C suggests the phrase "has flown," making the sentence: "The bird has flown away when it saw the approaching predator."
The phrase "has flown" is in the present perfect tense, which describes actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or have relevance to the present.
For example: "The bird has flown away, so it’s safe now." (Present relevance.)
However, the dependent clause "when it saw the approaching predator" uses the simple past tense ("saw"), indicating a specific past event.
The present perfect tense ("has flown") is not typically used with specific past time markers or in clauses with past tense verbs like "saw."
Saying "The bird has flown away when it saw the predator" is grammatically incorrect because the tenses don’t match.
Therefore, option C is incorrect.
Step 5: Analyze Option D - "Will fly"
Option D suggests the phrase "will fly," making the sentence: "The bird will fly away when it saw the approaching predator."
The phrase "will fly" is in the simple future tense, describing an action that will happen after the present moment.
However, the dependent clause "when it saw the approaching predator" is in the simple past tense ("saw"), indicating a past event.
Using a future tense ("will fly") with a past tense ("saw") creates a tense mismatch.
Saying "The bird will fly away when it saw the predator" is grammatically incorrect and logically impossible, as a future action cannot be caused by a past event in this context.
Therefore, option D is incorrect.
Step 6: Re-Evaluate Option A vs. Option B
Let’s compare options A ("flew") and B ("was flying") to ensure we’re choosing the most appropriate one:
- "The bird flew away when it saw the approaching predator." (Option A)
- "The bird was flying away when it saw the approaching predator." (Option B)
Option B ("was flying") suggests the bird was already in the process of flying away when it saw the predator, implying that the flying started before seeing the predator.
Option A ("flew") suggests that seeing the predator caused the bird to fly away, which aligns with the natural interpretation of the sentence: the bird saw the predator and then took action by flying away.
In cause-and-effect sentences with "when," the simple past tense is typically used for both clauses when the actions are sequential: "I jumped when I heard the sound."
Therefore, option A ("flew") is the better choice for the intended meaning.
Step 7: Why the Other Options Are Incorrect - A Broader Perspective
- Option B ("Was flying"): Past continuous implies an ongoing action, which changes the meaning to suggest the bird was already flying, not that it flew as a result of seeing the predator.
- Option C ("Has flown"): Present perfect doesn’t match the past tense of "saw."
- Option D ("Will fly"): Future tense cannot be used with a past event.
Step 8: Key Concepts
- Simple Past in Sequential Actions: Use simple past for sequential past actions with "when": "She left when she saw him."
- Past Continuous: Use past continuous to show an ongoing action interrupted by another: "She was leaving when he arrived."
- Tense Consistency: Ensure tenses align in dependent clauses (e.g., don’t mix present perfect with simple past).