Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs given in the brackets.
I usually……………(go) by train, but this weekend I……………(go) by bus. It……………(take) longer but it……………(cost) less.

Correct option is A

This sentence describes a habitual action and a change for a temporary situation. The phrase "I usually go by train" uses the simple present ("go") to refer to a regular habit. The phrase "but this weekend I am going by bus" describes a temporary action or a current plan around the present or near future, so the present continuous ("am going") is correct here. "It takes longer" and "it costs less" both use the simple present because they state general truths about the duration and cost of the bus journey.

The sentence reads:
"I usually go by train, but this weekend I am going by bus. It takes longer but it costs less."

Information Booster

About the Rule:

This transformation is based on English tense usage taught in standard grammar resources such as Michael Swan's Practical English Usage and the BBC's grammar guides.

Genre: English Grammar (Verb Tenses, Aspect)

Summary:

Simple present tense ("go," "takes," "costs") is used for habitual actions (what someone does regularly) and general truths (facts about travel by bus or train).

Present continuous tense ("am going") is used for an action happening around the current period or a planned temporary action, such as something specific the speaker is doing just for this weekend.

Additional Knowledge

Incorrect options explained:

(2) went, go, takes, costs: "Went" is past tense, not correct for a regular habit. "Go" for this weekend is not appropriate because the speaker is indicating a temporary, current, or planned shift, which needs the continuous tense.

(3) went, went, took, costed: Using "went" for both blanks confuses habit and past action. "Costed" is not standard for price; the past tense of "cost" is "cost," but the present is needed for a general truth.

(4) go, went, took, costs: "Went" and "took" correctly describe a completed past action, but the prompt "this weekend" suggests a current/near-future, planned, temporary shift, so the present continuous "am going" is preferable. "Took" is past; "takes" is needed for a general fact.