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All questions of Past Perfect Tense for ACT Exam

Which of the following is a tidal port?
  • a)
    Kandla
  • b)
    Mumbai
  • c)
    New Mangalore
  • d)
    Vishakhapatnam
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Vikram Kapoor answered
  • Kandla port is an example or tidal port.
  • It is the place where the energy is extracted from the tidal waves which is known as tidal energy.

Oliver ---- (not have) a cup of coffee before he came to our table.
Correct answer is 'had not had'. Can you explain this answer?

Meera Rana answered
Past Perfect tense,
Oliver had not had a cup of coffee before he came to our table.
When we use past perfect, we express a past action that happened,so past before the past.The auxiliary verb “had” is also used to form past perfect continuous. It expresses some past action that was happening for some time in the past before some other past action happened.

Plastids absent in
a) Parenchyma
b) Sclerenchyma
c) Collenchyma 
d) All of the above
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajeev Saxena answered
The tissue is elastic, extensible and has capacity to expand and gives a tensile strength to the organ.

He told me that he ___________ (see)  the film.
  • a)
    had seen 
  • b)
    have seen
  • c)
    should seen
  • d)
    could seen
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

**Explanation:**

The correct answer is "had seen". To understand why, let's first review the concept of verb tenses and the past perfect tense.

**Verb Tenses:**
- Verb tenses indicate the time of an action or event.
- The past tense refers to actions or events that have already happened.
- The present perfect tense refers to actions or events that started in the past and have continued up to the present moment.
- The past perfect tense refers to actions or events that happened before another action or event in the past.

**The Past Perfect Tense:**
- The past perfect tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb "had" followed by the past participle of the main verb.
- It is used to indicate an action or event that happened before another action or event in the past.
- The action or event that happened earlier is expressed in the past perfect tense, while the action or event that happened later is expressed in the simple past tense.
- The past perfect tense helps to establish a clear chronological order of events in the past.

**In the given sentence:**
- The sentence states that "he told me" something. This action of telling happened in the past.
- The information he provided in his statement is about seeing a film.
- The action of seeing the film happened before the action of telling.
- Therefore, we need to use the past perfect tense to indicate that seeing the film happened before the action of telling.

**Using "had seen":**
- "Had seen" is the past perfect tense form of the verb "see".
- By using "had seen" in the sentence, we clearly indicate that seeing the film happened before the action of telling.
- The correct sentence would be: "He told me that he had seen the film."

Overall, the past perfect tense is used in this sentence to show that seeing the film happened before the action of telling.

I suddenly realized that I ---- (meet) her at school.
Correct answer is 'had met'. Can you explain this answer?

Arshiya Mehta answered

The correct answer is had met because it is the past perfect tense, which is used to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past. In this case, the other action is the realization that the speaker had met her at school, which happened in the past. By using the past perfect tense, it emphasizes that the meeting happened before the realization.

Susan was late. By the time she got to school the class _______ already.
  • a)
    have started
  • b)
    starts
  • c)
    was starting
  • d)
    had started
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Hridoy Desai answered
Understanding the sentence:
Susan was late. By the time she got to school the class had already started.

Explanation:
- The sentence indicates a past action (Susan being late) that had an effect on another past action (the class starting).
- The use of "had started" in this context indicates that the class had started before Susan arrived at school.

Correct answer:
Option 'D' is the correct answer because it correctly uses the past perfect tense "had started" to show that the class had already begun before Susan arrived.

Why the other options are incorrect:
- Option 'A' ("have started") uses the present perfect tense, which is not appropriate for describing an action that occurred before Susan's arrival.
- Option 'B' ("starts") uses the simple present tense, which does not convey the past sequence of events.
- Option 'C' ("was starting") uses the past continuous tense, which implies that the class was in the process of starting when Susan arrived, rather than already being in progress.
Therefore, option 'D' is the most suitable choice as it accurately reflects the sequence of events in the sentence.

Before she traveled to Lisbon, she ---- (reserve) the hotel room.
Correct answer is 'had reserved'. Can you explain this answer?

Sahana Mehta answered
Explanation:

The correct answer is "had reserved" because it indicates that the action of reserving the hotel room occurred before the action of traveling to Lisbon. The past perfect tense is used to express an action that happened before another action in the past.

Verb Tenses:

In this sentence, we are dealing with two past actions - reserving the hotel room and traveling to Lisbon. To indicate the sequence of these actions, we need to use the appropriate verb tenses.

1. Past Perfect: The past perfect tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb "had" followed by the past participle of the main verb. It is used to express an action that happened before another action in the past.

2. Simple Past: The simple past tense is used to express a completed action in the past.

Sequence of Actions:

1. Reserving the hotel room: This action happened before traveling to Lisbon. Therefore, the past perfect tense is used to indicate that the reservation was made before the trip.

2. Traveling to Lisbon: This action happened after the hotel room was reserved. The simple past tense is used to express the completed action of traveling.

Sentence Construction:

The sentence is constructed as follows:

"Before she traveled to Lisbon, she had reserved the hotel room."

The phrase "Before she traveled to Lisbon" indicates the time frame in which the action of reserving the hotel room occurred. The past perfect tense "had reserved" is used to show that the reservation happened before the action of traveling.

Summary:

In summary, the correct answer "had reserved" indicates that the hotel room was reserved before the trip to Lisbon. The past perfect tense is used to express this sequence of actions, with the action of reserving the room happening before the action of traveling.

Sam washed the car after he ______it with gas.
  • a)
    had filled
  • b)
    have filled
  • c)
    fills
  • d)
    filled
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

To find the correct answer choice, let's analyze the sentence given:
"Sam washed the car after he ______ it with gas."
In this sentence, we need to choose the correct verb form that matches the tense and meaning of the sentence. Let's analyze each answer choice:
A: had filled
- This is the correct answer choice. The past perfect tense "had filled" indicates that filling the car with gas happened before Sam washed it.
B: have filled
- This is incorrect because "have filled" is in the present perfect tense, which doesn't match the past tense of the sentence.
C: fills
- This is incorrect because "fills" is in the present tense, which doesn't match the past tense of the sentence.
D: filled
- This is incorrect because "filled" is in the simple past tense, which doesn't indicate that the filling happened before Sam washed the car.
Therefore, the correct answer is A: had filled.

Fill in the blanks using Past Perfect Tense.
 
1. We ---- (meet) before you moved to Los Angeles.
Correct answer is 'had met'. Can you explain this answer?

Mayank Verma answered
The formula for the past perfect tense is 
had + [past participle]
. It doesn’t matter if the subject is singular or plural; the formula doesn’t change.

By the time the spring came, the flowers ---- (bloom).
Correct answer is 'had bloomed'. Can you explain this answer?

Ishita Desai answered
Explanation:
This is an example of past perfect tense, which is used to indicate that one action was completed before another action took place in the past. In this sentence, two past actions are mentioned:


  • Spring came

  • The flowers bloomed


Out of these two actions, one action happened before the other. The flowers bloomed before spring came, so we need to use past perfect tense to indicate that the blooming of flowers happened before spring came.

The formation of past perfect tense is:


  • Subject + had + past participle of the verb


To form the past participle of a verb, we add -ed to regular verbs and use the third form of irregular verbs. Here, the past participle form of 'bloom' is 'bloomed'.

So, the correct answer is 'had bloomed'.

My mom didn't turn off the light until I ---- (finish) my homework.
Correct answer is 'had finished'. Can you explain this answer?

Ridhi Kapoor answered
As it is a past perfect tense, 
(S+ had+ V3)  is used in this. 
And (finished) is 3rd form of verb.

We _____ that car for ten years before we sold it.
  • a)
    have
  • b)
    did have
  • c)
    has
  • d)
    had
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

To solve the given sentence completion exercise, we need to choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence. Let's analyze the options:
A:
have

- The verb "have" is in the present perfect tense, which is not suitable for the sentence because it needs to convey a past action.
B:
did have

- The verb phrase "did have" is in the past simple tense, but it is not necessary to use the auxiliary verb "did" in this sentence.
C:
has

- The verb "has" is in the present tense, which is not suitable for the sentence because it needs to convey a past action.
D:
had

- The verb "had" is in the past simple tense, which correctly conveys the action of owning the car for a specific period in the past.
Therefore, the correct answer is D: had.

I was sure that I _______ the woman before.
  • a)
    seen
  • b)
    had seen
  • c)
    have seen
  • d)
    has see
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Manisha Reddy answered
Explanation:

Understanding the sentence:
The sentence is in the past perfect tense, which is used to indicate an action that happened before another action in the past. In this case, the action of seeing the woman happened before the speaker became sure.

Correct answer:
The correct answer is option 'B' - had seen. This is because the past perfect tense is formed by using 'had' + past participle of the verb, which in this case is 'seen'.

Explanation of the past perfect tense:
- The past perfect tense is used to show that an action happened before another action in the past.
- It is formed by using 'had' + past participle of the verb.

Application to the sentence:
In the sentence, the speaker became sure that they had seen the woman before. This indicates that the action of seeing the woman happened before the speaker's realization of it.

Conclusion:
Therefore, the correct form of the verb to use in this sentence is 'had seen' to correctly convey the sequence of events in the past.

I realized that I ________ the wrong book from the library.
  • a)
    had taken
  • b)
    took
  • c)
    have taken
  • d)
    take
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Explanation:

Taking a look at the given sentence, we can see that it is in the past tense. The word "realized" indicates that the action of taking the wrong book from the library has already happened. Therefore, we need to use the past perfect tense to show that the action occurred before the realization.

Past Perfect Tense:
The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb "had" followed by the past participle of the main verb.

Correct Answer:
The correct answer is option A, which is "had taken". This is the past perfect tense form of the verb "take".

Incorrect Options:
- Option B: "took" is the simple past tense form of the verb "take". It does not convey the sequence of events correctly.
- Option C: "have taken" is the present perfect tense form of the verb "take". It is used to describe actions that happened in the past but have a connection to the present. It is not suitable for the given sentence.
- Option D: "take" is the present tense form of the verb "take". It does not convey the action happening in the past.

Therefore, the correct answer is option A, "had taken", as it accurately represents the action of taking the wrong book from the library before the realization occurred.

Had you ---- (just turn out) the lights when she woke up?
Correct answer is 'just turned out'. Can you explain this answer?

Janvi Malhotra answered
Explanation:

Understanding the sentence:
The original sentence is "Had you just turn out the lights when she woke up?" Here, the verb "turn out" is in the past tense, so the correct form should be "turned out."

Using the correct verb form:
When correcting the sentence, we need to use the past participle form of the verb "turn," which is "turned." Therefore, the corrected sentence should be "Had you just turned out the lights when she woke up?"

Explanation:
In this sentence, the speaker is asking if the action of turning out the lights had just been completed when she woke up. Using the correct form of the verb "turned" helps convey the correct timing of the action in the sentence.

Conclusion:
By using the correct verb form "turned out," we ensure that the sentence is grammatically accurate and effectively communicates the intended meaning to the reader.

What did Andrew say that he __________ with my Cd?
  • a)
    had done
  • b)
    did
  • c)
    have done
  • d)
    has done
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered
Andrew said that he __________ with my CD.
The correct answer is A: had done
Explanation:
- The sentence implies that Andrew did something in the past with the CD.
- The phrase "had done" is the past perfect tense, which is used to indicate an action that occurred before another past action.
- In this case, the action of Andrew doing something with the CD happened before the speaker's realization or inquiry about it.
- The other options, "did," "have done," and "has done," do not accurately convey the sequence of events in the sentence.
- "Did" is the simple past tense, which does not indicate that the action happened before another past action.
- "Have done" and "has done" are both present perfect tense, which is not appropriate for describing a past action.
In conclusion, Andrew said that he had done something with the CD.

I was able to understand her as I ---- (know) Lea for more than ten years.
Correct answer is 'had known'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered
Explanation:
The sentence "I was able to understand her as I ---- (know) Lea for more than ten years" is in the past tense. To complete the sentence correctly, we need to choose the correct form of the verb "know" in the past tense.
The correct answer is "had known" because:
1. Past Perfect Tense: The use of "had known" indicates that the action of knowing Lea happened before the events mentioned in the sentence. It suggests that the speaker knew Lea for more than ten years at a specific point in the past.
2. Duration of Time: The phrase "for more than ten years" indicates that the speaker knew Lea for a specific duration of time in the past. Past Perfect Tense is used to express an action that started in the past and continued up until another point in the past.
3. Consistency in Tense: The verb form needs to be consistent with the tense of the sentence. Since the sentence is in the past tense, we use the past perfect form "had known" to maintain consistency.
Therefore, the correct form of the verb "know" to complete the sentence is "had known."

At the party Susan ________ some cake.
  • a)
    have ate
  • b)
    have eaten
  • c)
    has ate
  • d)
    had eaten
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

To solve this sentence completion question, we need to determine the correct verb form to use with the subject "Susan" in the past tense.
The correct answer is option D:
had eaten
.
Here's a detailed explanation:
1. Subject: The subject of the sentence is "Susan," referring to a person.
2. Verb tense: Since the sentence is in the past tense, we need to use a past tense verb form.
3. Verb options:
- Option A:
have ate
- This uses the present tense "have" with the past tense "ate," which is incorrect. The verb forms should agree in tense.
- Option B:
have eaten
- This uses the present perfect tense "have" with the past participle "eaten." While this is grammatically correct, it doesn't match the past tense of the sentence.
- Option C:
has ate
- This uses the present tense "has" with the past tense "ate," which is incorrect. The verb forms should agree in tense.
- Option D:
had eaten
- This uses the past perfect tense "had" with the past participle "eaten." This is the correct verb form to use in this sentence, indicating that Susan had already eaten the cake before or during the party.
In conclusion, the correct verb form to complete the sentence is "had eaten," making option D the correct answer.

When I got to the office, they ---- (leave).
Correct answer is 'had left'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

When I got to the office, they had left.

Explanation:
When we look at the sentence, we can identify that the action of leaving the office happened before the action of arriving at the office. Therefore, we need to use the past perfect tense to indicate that the action had already been completed before the simple past action.
Here is a detailed explanation of the solution:
- Past perfect tense is used to describe an action that happened before another past action or a specific time in the past.
- In this case, the action of leaving the office happened before the action of arriving at the office.
- The past perfect tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb "had" followed by the past participle of the main verb.
- In the sentence, the main verb is "leave" and its past participle is "left".
- Therefore, the correct form of the verb to use in this sentence is "had left".
- By using the past perfect tense, we indicate that the action of leaving the office had already been completed before the action of arriving at the office.

 The movie ---- (already start) when we arrived there.
Correct answer is 'had already started'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered
Explanation:


The given sentence is in the past perfect tense, which is used to talk about an action that happened before another past action or time. In this case, the action of the movie starting happened before the action of us arriving at the theater. The correct form of the verb to use in this sentence is "had already started." Here is a detailed explanation:
Past Perfect Tense:
- The past perfect tense is used to express an action that happened before another past action or time.
- It is formed using the auxiliary verb "had" followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Correct Answer: had already started
Detailed
- The sentence is talking about the movie starting before we arrived at the theater.
- We use the past perfect tense to indicate that the movie had started before our arrival.
- The correct form of the verb to use in this sentence is "had already started."
Example:
- The movie had already started when we arrived there.
Key Points:
- The action of the movie starting happened before the action of us arriving at the theater.
- The correct form of the verb to use in this sentence is "had already started."

By the time my wife came home, I ______ the laundry
  • a)
    do
  • b)
    had done
  • c)
    did
  • d)
    have done
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

To determine the correct answer, let's analyze the sentence:
"By the time my wife came home, I ______ the laundry."
- The sentence is in the past tense because it mentions that the wife "came home."
- The action of doing the laundry occurred before the wife came home.
Given this information, we can eliminate options A, C, and D, as they are not in the past tense.
The correct answer is option B, "had done," because it is the appropriate past perfect tense to indicate an action that happened before another past event. The past perfect tense is used to show that an action was completed before a certain point in the past.
Therefore, the correct sentence would be: "By the time my wife came home, I had done the laundry."

Frank left the table after he _______ eating.
  • a)
    finishes
  • b)
    have finished
  • c)
    finish
  • d)
    had finished
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

Frank left the table after he had finished eating.

To understand why the correct answer is option D, let's break down the sentence and analyze each option:

A: finishes


  • This option is in the present tense, which is incorrect because it should be in the past tense to match the context of the sentence.


B: have finished


  • This option uses the present perfect tense, which is incorrect because the action of finishing eating occurred before Frank left the table.


C: finish


  • This option is in the base form, which is incorrect because it does not indicate that the action of eating was completed before Frank left the table.


D: had finished


  • This option uses the past perfect tense, which is correct because it indicates that the action of finishing eating occurred before Frank left the table.


Therefore, the correct answer is D: had finished.

Note: The past perfect tense is used to indicate an action that happened before another action in the past. In this case, the action of finishing eating (had finished) happened before the action of leaving the table (left).

The teacher asked why I _______ class early.
  • a)
    have left
  • b)
    left
  • c)
    had left
  • d)
    leave
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered
Explanation:
The correct answer to the question is option C: "had left." Here's why:
- The sentence is in the past tense, which means we need to use the past perfect tense to indicate an action that occurred before another past action.
- The verb "left" is the past simple form of "leave," and it indicates that the action of leaving the class happened at some point in the past.
- However, because there is another past action mentioned in the sentence (the teacher asking the question), we need to use the past perfect tense to show that leaving the class happened before the teacher asked the question.
- The past perfect tense is formed by using "had" + the past participle of the verb. In this case, the past participle of "leave" is "left."
- Therefore, the correct phrase to fill in the blank is "had left."
In summary, the sentence should be written as: "The teacher asked why I had left class early."

I noticed that I ---- (forget) to take my passport with me before I left home.
Correct answer is 'had forgotten'. Can you explain this answer?

Tanishq Verma answered
Explanation of Answer


The correct answer is "had forgotten". This is because the sentence is in the past perfect tense, which is used to show an action that was completed before another action in the past. In this case, the action of forgetting happened before the action of leaving home.


Using the Past Perfect Tense


The past perfect tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb "had" followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example:



  • I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.

  • She had already seen the movie before we went to the cinema.



In the sentence "I noticed that I had forgotten to take my passport with me before I left home", the past perfect tense is used to show that the action of forgetting happened before the action of leaving home.


Other Examples


Here are some other examples of the past perfect tense:



  • He had finished his homework before he went out to play.

  • They had already booked their tickets before the concert was announced.

  • She had studied French for three years before she moved to Paris.



These sentences all show an action that was completed before another action in the past.

The last time I was there it _________ a very good restaurant.
  • a)
    had been
  • b)
    have been
  • c)
    been
  • d)
    be
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

The correct answer is option A: had been.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the context and the tense of the sentence. Let's break it down:
- The sentence is talking about a past event: "The last time I was there."
- The speaker is referring to a specific point in the past when they visited the restaurant.
- We need to use the past perfect tense to indicate that the event happened before another past event.
Now let's analyze the options:
A: had been - This is the correct answer as it uses the past perfect tense to indicate that the restaurant was good before the speaker's last visit.
B: have been - This is incorrect because it uses the present perfect tense, which is not suitable for the past event being discussed.
C: been - This is incorrect because it is not a complete verb form. It needs an auxiliary verb to be complete.
D: be - This is incorrect because it is in the present tense, not suitable for the past event being discussed.
In conclusion, the correct answer is option A: had been, as it correctly conveys the past event and the sequence of events in the sentence.

Tim wanted to know what _______ to his backpack.
  • a)
    have happened
  • b)
    happened
  • c)
    had happened
  • d)
    happens
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Answer:

The correct answer is option C, "had happened."

Explanation:

In this sentence, the word "wanted" indicates that the action of wanting to know what happened to Tim's backpack occurred in the past. Therefore, we need to use a past tense form of the verb "happen" to match the tense of the sentence.

- Simple Past Tense (Option B): "Tim wanted to know what happened to his backpack." This option is incorrect because it does not convey the idea that the action happened before the time of wanting to know. It simply states that Tim wanted to know what happened, without any specific time reference.

- Present Perfect Tense (Option D): "Tim wanted to know what happens to his backpack." This option is incorrect because the present perfect tense is used to talk about actions or events that started in the past and continue to the present. However, in this sentence, Tim's desire to know what happened to his backpack is a one-time past event.

- Past Perfect Tense (Option C): "Tim wanted to know what had happened to his backpack." This option is correct because the past perfect tense is used to talk about an action that happened before another action in the past. In this case, the action of wanting to know what happened to the backpack (Tim's desire) happened after the action of the backpack being lost or something happening to it. Therefore, the past perfect tense is appropriate to show the sequence of events.

- Present Perfect Tense (Option A): "Tim wanted to know what have happened to his backpack." This option is incorrect because it uses the present perfect tense incorrectly. The present perfect tense is used to talk about actions or events that started in the past and continue to the present. Additionally, the use of the word "have" is incorrect because it does not agree with the past tense verb "wanted."

Therefore, option C, "had happened," is the correct answer as it accurately represents the sequence of events in the past.

I didn’t realize that I ---- (lose) my keys until I arrived home.
Correct answer is 'had lost'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

The correct answer for the given sentence is "had lost." Here's a detailed explanation:
Explanation:
The sentence is in the past tense, and it describes an action that happened before another past action. In such cases, we use the past perfect tense.
- The past perfect tense is formed by using "had" + past participle of the verb.
- In this case, the verb is "lose," and its past participle form is "lost."
Breaking down the sentence:
"I didn’t realize that I ---- (lose) my keys until I arrived home."
- The first part of the sentence implies that the speaker was not aware of losing their keys.
- The second part of the sentence indicates that the realization of losing the keys occurred when the speaker arrived home.
Putting it together:
To express the idea that the action of losing the keys happened before the speaker arrived home, we need to use the past perfect tense. Therefore, the correct form of the verb "lose" in the sentence is "had lost."
Final answer:
"I didn’t realize that I had lost my keys until I arrived home."

 I ---- (buy) a new camera before I went to England.
Correct answer is 'had bought'. Can you explain this answer?

Anisha Gupta answered
Explanation:

The correct answer is "had bought".

Explanation:
To understand why "had bought" is the correct answer, let's look at the sentence structure and the context of the sentence.

Sentence Structure:
The sentence is in the past tense and includes a time reference before an action. The structure of the sentence is as follows:

Subject + past perfect tense (had + past participle) + object + time reference + past simple tense + rest of the sentence.

Context:
The sentence implies that the speaker bought a new camera before they went to England. This suggests that the action of buying the camera occurred before the speaker's trip to England.

Use of Past Perfect Tense:
The past perfect tense is used to indicate an action that occurred before another action in the past. In this case, the action of buying the camera (had bought) happened before the action of going to England (went).

Example:
To further illustrate the use of the past perfect tense, consider the following example:
"I had finished my homework before I went to the party."

In this example, the action of finishing the homework (had finished) happened before the action of going to the party (went).

Conclusion:
In the given sentence, "I had bought a new camera before I went to England," the past perfect tense "had bought" is used to indicate that the action of buying the camera occurred before the action of going to England.

Marcia ______ by the time we got there.
  • a)
    left
  • b)
    leaves
  • c)
    have left
  • d)
    had left
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

To determine the correct verb form to fill in the blank, we need to consider the context and the tense used in the sentence.
Given that the sentence is in the past tense, we need to use the past perfect tense to indicate an action that happened before another past action.
The correct answer is had left because it correctly uses the past perfect tense.
Explanation:
- The sentence is in the past tense, indicated by the phrase "by the time we got there."
- The action of Marcia leaving occurred before the time we arrived.
- The past perfect tense, "had left," is used to indicate an action that happened before another past action.
- The other options, "left," "leaves," and "have left," do not correctly convey the sequence of events in the past.
To summarize:
- The correct verb form to fill in the blank is had left.
- This is because the sentence is in the past tense, and the past perfect tense is used to indicate an action that happened before another past action.

By the time Maria finished her report, she _______ working on the computer for over three hours.
  • a)
    be
  • b)
    has
  • c)
    had been
  • d)
    have been
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

To determine the correct answer choice, let's analyze the sentence:
"By the time Maria finished her report, she _______ working on the computer for over three hours."
- The sentence is in the past tense, indicating that the action of working on the computer occurred before Maria finished her report.
- The phrase "by the time" suggests that the action of working on the computer was already completed before Maria finished her report.
Given this information, we can eliminate answer choices A and B ("be" and "has") as they do not indicate a completed action in the past.
Now, let's compare answer choices C and D:
C: "had been"
D: "have been"
- Answer choice D ("have been") is in the present perfect tense, which denotes an ongoing action that started in the past and is still continuing. This is not suitable for the context of the sentence, where the action of working on the computer is already completed.
- On the other hand, answer choice C ("had been") is in the past perfect tense, which expresses an action that was completed before another past action. This aligns with the given sentence, as the action of working on the computer was completed before Maria finished her report.
Therefore, the correct answer is C: "had been."

We watched TV after our daughter _______ to bed.
  • a)
    had gone
  • b)
    go
  • c)
    have went
  • d)
    goes
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

The correct answer is A: had gone.
Explanation:
- The sentence implies that the action of watching TV occurred after the daughter went to bed.
- The verb form used after "after" should be in the past tense to indicate that the daughter went to bed before the action of watching TV.
- Let's analyze the given options to determine the correct answer:
A: had gone
- This is the correct answer as it uses the past perfect tense to indicate that the daughter went to bed before the action of watching TV.
B: go
- This option uses the present tense, which is incorrect because it doesn't indicate that the daughter went to bed before watching TV.
C: have went
- This option uses the present perfect tense, which is incorrect because it doesn't indicate that the daughter went to bed before watching TV.
D: goes
- This option uses the present tense, which is incorrect because it doesn't indicate that the daughter went to bed before watching TV.
To summarize, the correct verb form that indicates the daughter going to bed before watching TV is "had gone," making option A the correct answer.

Adams ---- (already finish) typing when I arrived at the office.
Correct answer is 'had already finished'. Can you explain this answer?

Vandana Basak answered
Explanation:

When using the past perfect tense in English, we typically use the form "had + past participle" to indicate that an action was completed before another past action or event. In this sentence, the action of typing was completed before the speaker arrived at the office. Hence, the correct answer is "had already finished".

Breakdown of the sentence:
- Subject: Adams
- Verb: typing
- Adverb: already
- Time: when I arrived at the office

Past perfect tense:
The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that happened before another past action or event. In this case, the action of finishing typing (past perfect tense) happened before the speaker arrived at the office (simple past tense).

Importance of "already":
The adverb "already" is used to emphasize that the action of typing was completed before a specific time (when the speaker arrived at the office). It indicates that Adams finished typing at some point in the past, and by the time the speaker arrived at the office, the action was already completed.

Putting it all together:
By using the past perfect tense "had already finished", the sentence conveys that Adams had completed the action of typing before the speaker arrived at the office. It emphasizes that the action was finished before a specific point in the past, which is when the speaker arrived.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Adams had already finished typing when I arrived at the office."

Chapter doubts & questions for Past Perfect Tense - English for ACT 2025 is part of ACT exam preparation. The chapters have been prepared according to the ACT exam syllabus. The Chapter doubts & questions, notes, tests & MCQs are made for ACT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, notes, meanings, examples, exercises, MCQs and online tests here.

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