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Question

Difficulty: MediumVerbs, Tenses, and Aspect

Read the sentence below and identify the verb form that correctly completes it:

By the time the maritime safety board published its final investigation report on the harbor incident, the salvage crew ________ the submerged wreckage.

Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the sentence?

  1. had already clearedAnswer
  2. B
    has already cleared
  3. C
    cleared out off
  4. D
    made a clearing of

Answer

The correct form is 'had already cleared', as it correctly employs the past perfect tense to signal an action completed prior to another past event.
The expression 'By the time' followed by a simple past verb ('published') requires the past perfect tense ('had already cleared') to denote an action completed prior to that past point in time.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the temporal frame of the main clause and subordinate clause
The main action 'published' is in the simple past tense, establishing a past point of reference.
Determining the time frame is essential for choosing the correct sequence of tenses.
2
Determine the relative timing of the action in the blank
The phrase 'By the time' indicates that clearing the wreckage occurred before the report was published.
An action completed prior to a specific point in the past requires the past perfect tense (had + past participle).
3
Select the verb construction that expresses past perfect aspect
'had already cleared' satisfies both the auxiliary requirement ('had') and aspectual completion.
This maintains correct sequence of tenses without unnatural collocations or particle mismatches.

Key Concept

Past Perfect Tense in Time Clauses
Estimated Time:50s
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Topics

Verbs, Tenses, and Aspect

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