Precis & Composition
English Tenses
No sooner _____ he _____ the speech than the audience began to clap.
A. did / finish
B. had / finished
C. has / finished
D. was / finishing
Correct Answer: B
In formal exam grammar, 'No sooner had + subject + past participle ... than ...' is the standard inversion.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
The room was empty; everyone _____ home.
A. went
B. had gone
C. has gone
D. is going
Correct Answer: B
The departure occurred before the past observation that the room was empty.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
I recognized the man because I _____ him before.
A. see
B. had seen
C. have seen
D. was seeing
Correct Answer: B
Seeing him happened before the later past event of recognition.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
By the time the police arrived, the thief _____.
A. escapes
B. had escaped
C. has escaped
D. was escaping always
Correct Answer: B
'By the time' plus a later past event often takes the past perfect for the earlier completed event.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
After he _____ the letter, he posted it.
A. had written
B. has written
C. was writing
D. writes
Correct Answer: A
The writing was completed before the posting; the past perfect makes the sequence explicit.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
She was nervous because she _____ never _____ before.
A. has / flown
B. had / flown
C. did / fly
D. was / flying
Correct Answer: B
The experience occurred before a past reference point, so the past perfect is required.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
When I reached the station, the train _____ already _____.
A. has / left
B. had / left
C. was / leaving always
D. did / leave
Correct Answer: B
The earlier of two past actions is commonly expressed with the past perfect.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
When the teacher entered, some students _____ to each other.
A. talked
B. were talking
C. have talked
D. had talking
Correct Answer: B
The talking was already in progress when the teacher entered.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
At that moment, everyone _____ at the notice board.
A. looked
B. was looking
C. has looked
D. had looked yesterday
Correct Answer: B
'At that moment' indicates an action in progress in the past.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
Which sentence best describes two simultaneous actions in progress in the past?
A. I read while she cooked.
B. I was reading while she was cooking.
C. I have read while she cooked.
D. I had read while she cooks.
Correct Answer: B
Two actions continuing simultaneously in the past are naturally expressed with the past continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
While the candidates _____ the paper, the invigilator walked around the hall.
A. attempted
B. were attempting
C. have attempted
D. had attempt
Correct Answer: B
The candidates' action was in progress when another past action occurred.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
He _____ constantly _____ during the lecture.
A. was / interrupting
B. did / interrupted
C. has / interrupted
D. had / interrupts
Correct Answer: A
Past continuous with adverbs like 'constantly' can express repeated irritating behavior in the past.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
The sun _____ and the birds _____ as we left the village.
A. shone / sang
B. was shining / were singing
C. has shone / have sung
D. had shine / sang
Correct Answer: B
Past continuous is often used for simultaneous background actions in a narrative.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
What _____ you _____ when I called?
A. did / do
B. were / doing
C. have / done
D. had / do
Correct Answer: B
The question asks about an action in progress at a particular past moment.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
They _____ when the accident happened.
A. travelled
B. were travelling
C. have travelled
D. had travelled
Correct Answer: B
An ongoing past activity interrupted by another event takes the past continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
While she _____, the phone rang.
A. slept
B. was sleeping
C. has slept
D. had sleeping
Correct Answer: B
The past continuous sets the background for a shorter interrupting past action.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
At 8 p.m. yesterday, I _____ for the test.
A. studied
B. was studying
C. have studied
D. had studied
Correct Answer: B
An action in progress at a specific time in the past takes the past continuous.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
He _____ football every evening when he was at school.
A. plays
B. played
C. has played
D. is playing
Correct Answer: B
The simple past can describe repeated past habits, especially with a past-time frame.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
After the bell _____, the students entered the hall.
A. rings
B. rang
C. has rung
D. is ringing
Correct Answer: B
A sequence of completed past events can be narrated in the simple past when their order is clear.
Precis & Composition
English Tenses
The lights went out while I _____ dinner.
A. cooked
B. was cooking
C. have cooked
D. had cook
Correct Answer: B
A longer background action in progress is usually past continuous, while the interrupting action is simple past.