Question

Fill in the blank with the appropriate tense:
It looked as though he ______ this before. (do)

• A. is not doing
• B. will do
• C. had done
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is C had done

Tense is used to provide more information about an action ( its time, completeness, etc.). Option C)had done is correct as the principal cause uses the simple past tense and therefore, the subordinate clause can use simple present, simple past, or past perfect tense and as the sentence talks about an earlier action which was completed in the past, past perfect tense must be used. The other options are wrong as the effect (looked as though) is realized after the cause had already been experienced and therefore, present continuous or simple future tense cannot be used here. The correct answer is C)had done.