Complete the academic passage below by writing the correct form of the verb 'champion' in the blank. What is the correct form of the verb 'champion' that completes the sentence in accordance with the conventions of Standard English?
Answer:By the time French physicist Émilie du Châtelet completed her definitive translation of Isaac Newton's *Principia* in 1749, continental mathematicians 【had championed】 René Descartes's vortex theory of planetary motion for over a century. Consequently, Châtelet’s extensive mathematical commentary, which demonstrated the compatibility of Newtonian mechanics with Leibnizian calculus, played a crucial role in shifting the scientific consensus of Europe.
Answer
had championed (or had been championing)
The correct verb form is the past perfect tense ('had championed') or past perfect continuous ('had been championing'). The opening dependent clause uses 'By the time' to anchor the sentence's perspective to a point in the past (1749). Because the action in the main clause occurs over a duration ('for over a century') prior to this point, the past perfect is required to establish the correct temporal hierarchy.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Verb Tense, Aspect, and Mood
Estimated Time:1m 30s