16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardVerb tense with a past time marker

Standard English Conventions practice question

The last passenger train ____ the branch line in 1963, and the track was lifted the following year.

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

  1. A. ran onCorrect
  2. B. runs on
  3. C. has run on
  4. D. is running on

Answer: A. ran on

A specific past date takes the simple past: 'ran … in 1963'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. runs on
Present tense clashes with 1963.
C. has run on
Present perfect is not used with a specific past date.
D. is running on
Present continuous clashes with 1963.

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