Select the correct option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If no substitution is required, select 'No substitution'.
The train left before I reached the station.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. had left before I reached
Error Concept: Sequence of tenses in past events (Past Perfect vs. Simple Past)
What is wrong: The original sentence uses “left before I reached”, which creates confusion in the sequence of events. It implies both actions happened in the past, but doesn't clearly show which happened first.
Grammar Concept:
When two actions happened in the past, the action that happened first is written in the Past Perfect tense, and the action that happened later is written in Simple Past tense.
Incorrectness of the concept in context:
Here, the train left first, and I reached the station later, so “left” should be in Past Perfect form: had left
Correction: “left before I reached” → had left before I reached
Corrected phrase: had left before I reached
Final sentence: The train had left before I reached the station.
Hence, the chosen option is correct