Past continuous + adverb of time

[Samrika]

Test No. incompl/inter-92 "Tenses (3)", question 8

The man who ......... walking down the road just then, lives next door.

(a) is
(b) will be
(c) was
(d) has been

Test No. incompl/inter-92 "Tenses (3)", answer 8

The man who was walking down the road just then, lives next door.

Correct answer: (c) was
_________________________

Why should I choose c for an answer?

Samrika

[Mister Micawber]

.
The adverb of time in the clause is just then, which indicates past time; therefore, you should choose was to form the past continuous.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Ryoga]

Why can't we use present perfect continuous?
He has been walking...
I thought that it would be right, because 'just then' means right now, just at the moment or so. No? So, the action started in the past, and finished right before the moment of speach.
Why i am not right?

[Yankee]

Hi Ryoga

I understand your point, and I think it's good that you're analyzing things.

BUT...

The expression "just then" refers to a specific time in the past. You need a past tense.

It is possible to use the word "just" with the present perfect this way: The man who has just walked down the street is my neighbor.

You cannot use "just then" with the present perfect. The word "then" makes the point in time much too specific for the present perfect.

Amy
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Ryoga]

Ok, i understand, thank you. The word 'just' confused me.

[winson617hk]

Why dont use present tense? As the end of this question uses present tense "LIVES"