Which sentence correctly uses the past perfect tense with the connector ‘by the time’?
ABy the time we arrived, the movie had already started.
BBy the time we arrived, the movie has already started.
CBy the time we arrive, the movie had already started.
DBy the time we arrived, the movie already started.
Explanation
The connector ‘by the time’ introduces a point in the past by which an earlier action was already completed, requiring the past perfect tense for that earlier action, giving ‘the movie had already started.’ This pattern functions similarly to sentences using ‘after’ or ‘before,’ consistently requiring the past perfect for whichever action occurred first. Explore more English MCQs on mcqstutor to keep practicing.
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