A commentary of a sports match, a ceremony or an event makes use of the ______ verb.

• A. Past tense
• B. Simple present
• C. Present perfect
• D. Past continuous

Answer: (B)

Using the simple present tense in live commentary creates immediacy, presenting actions as they happen rather than as finished reports. When a sportscaster describes a game or a ceremony in real time, phrases like “he passes, he shoots, he scores” feel current and vivid because they use the present tense. This natural sense of immediacy keeps listeners engaged by making the unfolding events feel right now.

If you used past tense, the narration would sound like it already happened, taking away the sense of ongoing action. Present perfect would link past actions to the present in terms of relevance or results, which isn’t how play-by-play narration typically reads. Past continuous would describe something that was in progress at a past moment, not the current moment being watched. So the simple present is the best fit for describing events as they unfold.