Improve the sentence by selecting the correct form of tense from the options.
She said that she ______ the report before the deadline.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
had completed
Explanation
Rule: According to the rules of sequence of tenses in indirect speech, when the reporting verb is in the past tense ("said"), the verbs in the reported clause must also shift to an appropriate past tense.
Formula: Past Reporting Verb (said) + that + Past Perfect (had + V3)
Application: The action of finishing the report happened before the action of speaking about it. To represent an action completed before a specific point in the past, the past perfect tense "had completed" must be used.