Question

It is a month since the holidays ....
(1) began
(3) have begun
(2) may begin
(4) will begin
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Answer 1

ANSWER:

It is a month since the holidays have begun.

EXPLANATION:

‘Since’ is used to refer to a point of time. It can be referred to a 'point' after a 'specific time' or an 'event in the past'. It can also be referred to a point in the past and still continuing until the present time.

Usually since is used in present perfect and past perfect tense only. Future tense cannot be used as ‘since’ is used in the past.

For example: Raghu has been studying astronomy since March 2000.

The given sentence mentions about the holidays since a month. Out of all the options provided, the perfect tense is ‘have begun’.

Answer 2

Correct sentence:

It is a month since the holidays (3) have begun.

Explanation:

• The present tense is "begin" whereas the past tense is "began" and the past participle is "begun".
• The past tense does not need any helping verbs whereas the past particle require auxiliary verbs. Thus, "began" alone cannot be used in a sentence.
• In the given sentence, the holiday is a certain period of time and it is also a past tense. Thus, "begun"  with "have" is used in the sentence.