Question

Make a sentence from the words in brackets using the appropriate tense:

The month of October is going on and you are talking about Ann's earning of last year.

____________________ (Ann / not / earn / so much / last year)

• A. Ann has not been earning so much last year.
• B. Ann don't earn so much last year.
• C. Ann didn't earn so much last year.
  
• D. Ann had not earned so much last year.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Ann didn't earn so much last year.

Option C: 'Didn't earn' is in the simple past tense. It states an action that happened (or didn't happen) in the past (last year).

The sentence is meaningful and hence option C is correct.

Option A: 'Has not been earning' states a present continuous action, whereas the action happened 'last year'.

Option B: 'Don't earn' is in simple present tense whereas the action happened in the past: 'last year'.

Option D: 'Had not earned' states a past perfect action. This tense expresses an action that completed in the past, before another action took place.

The sentence does not agree with the past perfect tense, as it has only one past action.

Hence options A, B and D are incorrect.