16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardPast perfect for the earlier action

Standard English Conventions practice question

When the inspectors finally arrived, the owner ____ the faulty wiring and repainted the wall.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. had already replacedCorrect
  2. B. already replaces
  3. C. has already replaced
  4. D. already replacing

Answer: A. had already replaced

The replacing came before the arrival.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. already replaces
Present tense.
C. has already replaced
Present perfect clashes with 'arrived'.
D. already replacing
Not a finite verb.

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