23. Select the word or phrase that makes this sentence grammatically correct: Theo was in great shape; he ___ all the way back to the pier.
Answer: A
Theo was in great shape; he swam all the way back to the pier.
The correct word to complete the sentence is "swam," which is the past tense of the verb "to swim." This choice accurately reflects the action that Theo took in the past.
A) swam
This option is correct because "swam" is the simple past tense of the verb "to swim." It matches the context of the sentence, indicating that Theo completed the action of swimming back to the pier in the past.
B) swimmed
This option is incorrect as "swimmed" is not a valid form of the verb "to swim." The correct past tense is "swam," so this choice does not fit grammatically or contextually within the sentence.
C) swum
This option is incorrect because "swum" is the past participle of the verb "to swim" and cannot be used in this context without an auxiliary verb. The sentence requires a simple past tense verb to convey that the action has been completed.
D) swim
This option is incorrect as "swim" is the base form of the verb. It does not fit the grammatical structure of the sentence, which needs a past tense verb to describe an action that has already occurred.
Conclusion
The correct answer, "swam," effectively conveys that the action took place in the past, which aligns with the context of the sentence. All other options fail to provide a grammatically correct or contextually appropriate verb form, reinforcing that "swam" is the only suitable choice.