Select the sentence that properly uses the past perfect tense to establish sequence of events.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Before the division chief arrived, the senior clerk had already filed the quarterly attendance log.
- Step 1: The past perfect tense ('had filed') indicates an action completed prior to another past action ('arrived'). Step 2. 'Before the division chief arrived, the senior clerk had already filed the quarterly attendance log.' correctly places past perfect on the earlier action. Answer: Before the division chief arrived, the senior clerk had already filed the quarterly attendance log. Why not the others: 'Before the division chief had arrived, the senior clerk already filed the quarterly attendance log.' inverts the sequence; 'Before the division chief arrived, the senior clerk already filed the quarterly employee attendance log.' uses simple past for both; 'Before the division chief arrives, the senior clerk had already filed the quarterly attendance log.' mixes present and past perfect.
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