Question

Fill in the blank with correct option to complete a message from Yogita to her friend Shobit:
Dear Shobit,
Let’s meet at 5 p.m. for the rehearsal but I need to go home first since morning I _______} anything since morning.

• A. did not eaten
• B. had not eaten
• C. have not eaten
• D. am not eating

Hint:

Use present perfect (have/has + past participle) with time markers like “since” and “for.”

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The sentence requires the correct tense to complete Yogita's message naturally.

Step 1:
Analyze the time reference.
The phrase "since morning" indicates a period of time starting in the past and continuing up to the present moment (the time of speaking/writing). In English grammar, such time references typically require the present perfect tense.

Step 2:
Evaluate each option.
- (A) "did not eat" — This is the simple past tense. It describes a completed action in the past with no connection to the present. It does not work with "since morning," which implies an ongoing situation.
- (B) "had not eaten" — This is the past perfect tense. It describes an action that was not completed before another point in the past. The sentence is set in the present (meeting at 5 p.m. today), so past perfect is incorrect.
- (C) "have not eaten" — This is the present perfect tense. It correctly describes an action (not eating) that started in the morning and continues to the present moment. This fits perfectly with "since morning."
- (D) "am not eating" — This is the present continuous tense. It describes an action happening right now or around now, but it does not convey the duration from morning to present, making it unsuitable here.

Step 3:
Conclusion.
The present perfect tense "have not eaten" is the only option that correctly expresses an action that began in the past (morning) and continues to the present.

Final Answer:
(C) have not eaten