Standard English ConventionsHardPast perfect for the earlier of two past events
Standard English Conventions practice question
By the time the fire engine arrived, the neighbours ____ the blaze with garden hoses.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. had put outCorrect
- B. put out
- C. have put out
- D. putting out
Answer: A. had put out
Two past events: the neighbours put out the fire, and THEN the engine arrived. 'By the time' marks the order, and the earlier event takes the past perfect: 'had put out'.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. put out
- Simple past leaves the order of the two events unclear; 'by the time' calls for the earlier one to be marked.
- C. have put out
- 'have put out' connects to the present, but the whole scene is in the past ('arrived').
- D. putting out
- 'putting out' isn't a complete verb.
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