16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardVerb tense in a sequence of past events

Standard English Conventions practice question

By the time the fire brigade arrived, the neighbours ____ everyone out of the building.

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

  1. A. had gotCorrect
  2. B. have got
  3. C. get
  4. D. getting

Answer: A. had got

The earlier of two past events takes the past perfect.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. have got
Present perfect clashes with 'arrived'.
C. get
Present.
D. getting
Not a finite verb.

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