Standard English ConventionsHardVerb tense for a sequence of past events
Standard English Conventions practice question
By the time the museum's curator ____ the gallery, the jar she wanted had been sold.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. reachedCorrect
- B. reaches
- C. had reached
- D. is reaching
Answer: A. reached
The earlier event takes the past perfect ('had been sold'); the later one the simple past ('reached').
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. reaches
- Present tense clashes with 'had been sold'.
- C. had reached
- Two past perfects leave no later event for the earlier one to precede.
- D. is reaching
- Present progressive.
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