multiple choice

[sheena55ro]

I`m afraid we----just----, madam. It`s 4:55 and we always ------ at 5:00 on Fridays.
a] are closing / close
b]had closed / closed
c]were closing / have closed
d]have closed / close

I am supposed to choose [a] but also [d] sound good to me. What is the difference between [a] and [d].
Which answer is more appropriate ?

Does "are closing" mean that we are about to close it in the next 5 minutes?



Thank you in advance.

[svartnik]

The closing of the shop is in progress: use present continuous.

[Tdol]

D) doesn't work, because it's too earl;y to have closed completely, but early enough to have, as Svartvik says, the process underway.

[sheena55ro]

Thanks svartnik and tdol for your replies

[mykwyner]

We are just closing. This means that the process has begun this very minute. We close every day at... We use the present tense to indicate a repeated or usual action.

Choice [d] indicates that the closing is complete (closed), but it cannot be complete because it is five minutes before closing time (4:55).

[sheena55ro]

Thank you very much .To all of you.