Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option-
A)You mean there was no food left when you got to the reception?
B)Exactly, they ____ everything up.
a) Will eat
b) Had eaten
c) Ate
d) Have eaten

Answer 1

Hint: The sentence states that there was no food left. Hence, we can conclude that the ‘objects’ of the sentence had finished all the food. Pay attention to the word ‘left’.

Complete step-by-step answer:

 With the help of the hint, we can understand that the above given conversation between two people is regarding the objects eating all the food. The ‘X’ states that there was no food left when ‘Y’ got to the reception. The word ‘left’ indicates that the action had taken place in the past. So, our answer should also include an action that was completed in the past itself.
Let’s look at then given options-
A)Will eat- This option states an action that will take place in the future. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
B)Had eaten- This option states an action that has been completed in the past itself. Hence, it is the correct option.
C)Ate- This option states an action that has been performed in the simple past tense, which is not logical and sensible for use in the sentence. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
D)Have eaten- This option states an action that has been performed in the present perfect tense. Hence, it is an incorrect option.

Note: We use the past perfect tense for an action that began and ended in the past itself. Past perfect tense- Had+ Past participle of the verb.