Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyVerbs, Tenses, and Aspect

Which option best completes the sentence below?

"By the time the rescue team reached the village, the floodwaters _______ several homes."

  1. had already destroyedAnswer
  2. B
    have already destroyed
  3. C
    destroyed
  4. D
    would destroy

Answer

had already destroyed
The verb phrase 'had already destroyed' correctly uses the past perfect tense. In English grammar, when two past events are mentioned and one occurred before the other, the earlier event must be expressed in the past perfect tense ('had' + past participle). Since the destruction of the homes took place prior to the arrival of the rescue team, 'had already destroyed' is the grammatically correct choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the time frame established by the time clause.
The clause 'By the time the rescue team reached...' sets a past reference point.
Understanding the timeline helps determine the correct aspect of the verb.
2
Determine the sequence of past events.
The destruction of the homes happened before the rescue team's arrival.
An event that takes place prior to another past event requires the past perfect tense (had + past participle).
3
Select the verb phrase that fits the past perfect structure.
'had already destroyed' correctly reflects the completed prior past action.
It maintains accurate temporal sequence and grammatical aspect.

Key Concept

Past Perfect Tense for Sequence of Past Events
Rate this question

Topics

Verbs, Tenses, and Aspect

More questions from this topic