Question

We _____ to the new restaurant for dinner last night.

• A. Were going
• B. Went
• C. Have gone
• D. Will go

Hint:

To master verb tenses with time markers:
- Use simple past for completed actions in the past: "We went yesterday."
- Use past continuous for ongoing past actions: "We were going when it rained."
- Avoid present perfect with specific past times: Not "We have gone last night."
- Match the tense to the time: "Last night" requires a past tense like "went."

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To determine the correct verb phrase for the sentence "We \_\_\_\_ to the new restaurant for dinner last night," we need to analyze the tense and meaning of the sentence.
This question tests your knowledge of verb tenses, particularly how to match the tense with a time-specific adverb like "last night."
Step 1: Understand the Time Context
The phrase "last night" indicates a specific time in the past.
In English, when a sentence includes a past time marker like "last night," "yesterday," or "in 2020," the verb typically needs to be in a past tense to match the time frame.
We need to choose a verb phrase that correctly reflects an action completed in the past.
Step 2: Analyze Option A - "Were going"
Option A suggests the phrase "were going," making the sentence: "We were going to the new restaurant for dinner last night."
The phrase "were going" is in the past continuous tense, which describes an ongoing action in the past.
It often implies that the action was in progress but may not have been completed, or it sets the scene for another event (e.g., "We were going to the restaurant when it started raining.").
In this sentence, however, "last night" suggests a completed action—we went to the restaurant and had dinner.
Using "were going" leaves the action feeling incomplete or interrupted, which doesn’t fully match the context of having dinner last night.
While "were going" is grammatically possible, it’s less natural than a simple past tense for a completed action.
Let’s check the other options to confirm.
Step 3: Analyze Option B - "Went"
Option B suggests the verb "went," making the sentence: "We went to the new restaurant for dinner last night."
The verb "went" is in the simple past tense, which is used for actions that were completed at a specific time in the past.
For example:
- "I went to the store yesterday." (A completed action in the past.)
- "They went to the movies last weekend." (A completed action.)
Here, "last night" indicates the action happened and finished in the past, and "went" perfectly matches this time frame.
The sentence "We went to the new restaurant for dinner last night" is grammatically correct and natural, indicating that the action of going to the restaurant was completed.
Option B seems to be the correct choice, but let’s evaluate the remaining options.
Step 4: Analyze Option C - "Have gone"
Option C suggests the phrase "have gone," making the sentence: "We have gone to the new restaurant for dinner last night."
The phrase "have gone" is in the present perfect tense, which describes actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or actions that have relevance to the present moment.
For example:
- "We have gone to that restaurant before." (At some unspecified time in the past.)
- "We have gone to the restaurant, so we can tell you about it." (The action has present relevance.)
However, "last night" is a specific past time marker, and the present perfect tense is not typically used with specific past times like "yesterday," "last night," or "in 2020."
Saying "We have gone to the restaurant last night" is grammatically incorrect because the present perfect tense conflicts with the specific past time frame.
Therefore, option C is incorrect.
Step 5: Analyze Option D - "Will go"
Option D suggests the phrase "will go," making the sentence: "We will go to the new restaurant for dinner last night."
The phrase "will go" is in the simple future tense, which describes actions that will happen after the present moment.
For example: "We will go to the restaurant tomorrow." (A future action.)
However, "last night" refers to a time in the past, so using a future tense verb like "will go" creates a tense mismatch.
Saying "We will go to the restaurant last night" is grammatically incorrect and logically impossible, as a future action cannot occur in the past.
Therefore, option D is incorrect.
Step 6: Re-Evaluate Option A vs. Option B
Let’s revisit option A ("were going") and option B ("went") to ensure we’re choosing the most natural option:
- "We were going to the new restaurant for dinner last night." (Option A)
- "We went to the new restaurant for dinner last night." (Option B)
While "were going" (past continuous) can be used to describe an ongoing action, it often implies the action was interrupted or sets the scene for another event (e.g., "We were going to the restaurant when we got a flat tire.").
In this sentence, there’s no indication of an interruption or additional event—just a statement that the action happened.
The simple past "went" (option B) is more straightforward and natural for a completed action like having dinner last night.
Native speakers would typically say "We went to the restaurant last night" rather than "We were going to the restaurant last night" in this context.
Therefore, option B is the better choice.
Step 7: Why the Other Options Are Incorrect - A Broader Perspective
- Option A ("Were going"): While grammatically possible, "were going" implies an ongoing or interrupted action, which doesn’t fully match the completed nature of the sentence.
- Option C ("Have gone"): Present perfect tense cannot be used with specific past time markers like "last night."
- Option D ("Will go"): Future tense cannot be used for a past event.
Step 8: Key Concepts
- Simple Past Tense: Use the simple past (e.g., "went") for completed actions at a specific time in the past.
- Past Continuous: Use past continuous (e.g., "were going") for ongoing past actions, often with an interruption.
- Present Perfect: Use present perfect (e.g., "have gone") for unspecified past actions or those with present relevance, not with specific past times.
- Tense and Time Markers: Match the verb tense to the time marker (e.g., "last night" requires a past tense).