Which word should replace the underlined word? “When the alarm rang, Luis [grabs] his backpack and ran outside.”

Use Standard Grammar, Usage, and Spelling to Edit · TELPAS Grades 8–9 writing. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Reporting category 2: find and fix an error in a short text. On the real test some of these are typed answers or sentence rewrites. Here they are multiple choice so they can be checked.

The question

Read the sentence. Then choose the best answer.

Read the sentence. The underlined word has an error. When the alarm rang, Luis [grabs] his backpack and ran outside. Which word should replace the underlined word?

• Agrabbing
• Bgrab
• CgrabbedCorrect answer
• Dhas grabbed

Why “grabbed” is correct

This tests keeping verb tenses consistent. "Rang" and "ran" are past tense, so the middle verb must be past tense, too. When grab becomes grabbed, the b doubles, a spelling rule for short verbs.

Why the other answers are wrong

• grabbing — "Grabbing" needs a helping verb, as in "was grabbing."
• grab — "Grab" is present tense, but the other verbs are in the past.
• has grabbed — "Has grabbed" does not match "rang" and "ran," which tell about a finished past event.

Practice more of this

More writing practice for Grades 8–9, or see the TELPAS practice test for 8th and 9th grade.