Question

Which word group best completes the sentence without introducing an inappropriate shift in tense?

As Dad was climbing down the ladder,

A.
he accidentally had been kicking the paint can over.

B.
he accidentally was kicking the paint can over.

C.
he accidentally kicks the paint can over.

D.
he accidentally kicked the paint can over.

Answer 1

The correct answer is D. he accidentally kicked the paint can over. In the sentence given above, the most appropriate verb tense to use is past because the first tense used is past participle which indicates that the action was done already. All the other choices will make the sentence grammatically incorrect.