Fill in the blank with the correct tense:
They _____ their objections by the time the committee convened.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. had raised.
Context: The sentence shows that one action happened before another past action (before the committee convened).
Meaning of the tense:
Past Perfect Tense (had + V3): It is used to show that an action was completed before another action in the past.
Correct word: had raised
Reason: The phrase “by the time the committee convened” indicates that the objections were already completed before that past event, so past perfect tense is required.
Final Sentence: They had raised their objections by the time the committee convened.
Hence the chosen option is correct.