Standard English ConventionsHardTense consistency in reported past events
Standard English Conventions practice question
The archivist explained that the letters ____ in a bank vault since 1950 and had only recently been catalogued.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. had been keptCorrect
- B. are kept
- C. will be kept
- D. keeping
Answer: A. had been kept
The keeping preceded the recent cataloguing, both in the past: past perfect 'had been kept'.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. are kept
- Present tense clashes with 'explained' and 'had … been catalogued'.
- C. will be kept
- Future makes no sense for events since 1950.
- D. keeping
- 'Keeping' leaves no finite verb.
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