Sani … on a banana peel and fell down.

Analyze the question

The sentence is "Sani __ on a banana peel and fell down." We need the verb form that fits grammatically and in meaning.

Explain the concept

The sentence has two actions joined by "and": the sliding and the falling. "Fell" is simple past tense. In English, verbs joined by "and" should be in the same tense (parallel structure). So the blank needs a simple past form.

Solution, option by option

• A. slide: This is the base (present) form. It clashes with "fell," so it is wrong.
• B. slid: This is the simple past tense of "slide." It matches "fell" and describes a quick sequence: he slid, then he fell. This is correct.
• C. had slid: This is the past perfect. It would show that the sliding happened before another past event, but "and fell down" just continues the sequence, so it is awkward and unnecessary.
• D. was sliding: This is the past continuous. It describes an ongoing action that was interrupted. It is not as natural here, because a slip on a banana peel is a sudden, completed action.

Answer: B. slid

"Sani slid on a banana peel and fell down."

Exam tip: When two verbs are joined by "and," check that they share the same tense. Also remember the principal parts of irregular verbs: slide → slid → slid. Questions on irregular verbs appear often in WASSCE, JAMB, and NECO.