Phrasal verb: go off

[holler]

Test No. express/inter-9 "Go ahead", question 6

I'm afraid you've left that food too long out of the fridge and now it's gone off.

(a) become flat
(b) become rotten
(c) become rich
(d) become stale

Test No. express/inter-9 "Go ahead", answer 6

I'm afraid you've left that food too long out of the fridge and now it's become rotten.

Correct answer: (b) become rotten
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why is it become and not became?

holler

[Torsten]

Because this is present perfect: have/has + past participle

become became become

TOEIC listening, photographs: A large watermelon

[Haihao]

Hi, Why is (d) not correct? Is it because go off is defined to mean denature? Thank you. Haihao

[Torsten]

Hi Haihao, welcome to our community, it's great to have someone from Japan on board. As for your question, 'stale' usually refers to drinks rather than food.

By the way, where and how did you learn English, your level seems quite high.

Regards,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, photographs: The oil rig

[Haihao]

Hi Torsten, thank you for your explanation and kindness. I learned English at the beginning in a language school under my American teachers. Since then I have been keeping a kind of self-study because I really like the language as well as its literature.

Thanks again.
Haihao

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

I hope you don't mind if I disagree with you a bit. ;)

When I hear the word "stale" I tend to think first of things such as bread or cake. These things would still be edible after they're stale, but wouldn't taste good. Carbonated drinks (beer, for example) can also become stale -- often characterized by the loss of "fizziness".

Meats, vegetables and fruits are the sorts of things that I connect most directly to the idea of rot and when they're rotten, they're usually inedible.

Amy
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Torsten]

Of course you are right, Amy and this example shows that learning is a process and sometimes a case of trial and error. (or rather a question of how to use a dictionary correctly ;-))

TOEIC listening, photographs: The five star bedroom