Cloze Passage - Grammar (Sequence of Tenses)

There is this sentence in my Grammar Cloze passage:

Though I started off reasonably well, soon I felt my legs ___________(ache) badly.

Should I answer "ache" or "aching"? The correct answer is "aching". I think "I felt my legs ache badly" is also correct. Can anyone explain to me why it should be "aching" instead of "ache"?

Thanks

Solution 1:

Aching is preferable to “ache”, rather than ‘correct’.

Aching = in the process of aching. It implies that the feeling lasted for some time and had not finished at the time referred to, i.e. The ache is durative and in action at the time referred to.

Ache (v.) = to give one instance of an ache. The “ache” can thus be durative, or momentary, or part of a series of aches.