Question

Select the best option from the four alternatives given

We _______ our work before the guests arrived at our house. 

Options

• shall finish 

• have finished 

• had finished 

• shall have finished

Answer 1

We had finished our work before the guests arrived at our house. 

Explanation:

If the action after "before" is a new action, use Simple  Past. If the action after "before" started (and was not completed) before a certain time in the past, use Past  Perfect. Therefore 'had finished' is the correct choice.