Had/Was + preposition

[Minorsky]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #95 "auxiliary verbs: was, did, have", question 9

She was surprised that he knew her name. She ......... never met him before.

(a) was
(b) were
(c) did
(d) had

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #95 "auxiliary verbs: was, did, have", answer 9

She was surprised that he knew her name. She had never met him before.

Correct answer: (d) had

Your answer was: correct
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when do you use? had + pp
when do you use? was + pp

Minorsky

[Mister Micawber]

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Had + pp forms the past perfect tense, which indicates the earliest of two past events when there is potential confusion or the need for stress:

I had already eaten three slices when we got the pizza home.

Was + pp forms the past tense, passive voice, where the grammatical subject is the recipient of the verb action:

The pizza was devoured in a trice.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's