Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
By the time we reached the cinema, the film ______.

already startsCorrect answerYour answerhas already startedCorrect answerYour answerhad already startedCorrect answerYour answerwas already startingCorrect answerYour answer

Show the answer and explanation

CorrectNot quiteAnswer C

Correct answer: C

Two past events: the film started first, and we reached later. The earlier of two past actions takes the past perfect: "had already started".

Worth noting

"Has already started" is present perfect, which cannot sit beside the past "reached".

Concept: The past perfect for the earlier of two past actions
Typical timeTypical: 30 s
Your timeYours: —

The rule this testsThe right tense

Practise this chapter →

Ten questions from Tenses and agreement, at your own pace.

Practise this chapter →

Ten questions from Tenses and agreement, at your own pace.

Practise this chapter All 80 questions in Tenses and agreement Revise the notes for Tenses and agreement

Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.By the time we reached the cinema, the film ______.

Explanation

Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
By the time we reached the cinema, the film ______.