Crime and Narrative Tenses

The detective (search) the crime scene when he (find) a clue.

• The detective was searching the crime scene when he found a clue.

• The detective was searching the crime scene when he finds a clue.

• The detective searched the crime scene when he found a clue.

• The detective searches the crime scene when he finds a clue.

She (not/see) the suspect before the incident happened.

• had not seen

• did see

• did not notice

• did not see

They (discuss) the case for hours before they (reach) a conclusion.

• They had discussed the case for hours before they reached a conclusion.

• They discussed the case for hours before they reach a conclusion.

• They discuss the case for hours before they reach a conclusion.

• They discussed the case for hours after they reached a conclusion.

While the thief (escape), the police (arrive) at the scene.

• While the thief was escaping, the police arrived at the scene.

• While the thief escaped, the police arrive at the scene.

• While the thief escapes, the police were arriving at the scene.

• While the thief is escaping, the police had arrived at the scene.

He (never/commit) a crime before he (get) caught last week.

• He has never committed a crime before he got caught last week.

• He never committed a crime before he got caught last week.

• He had never commit a crime before he got caught last week.

• He had never committed a crime before he got caught last week.

The witness (wait) for the police when she (see) the suspect.

• The witness waits for the police when she sees the suspect.

• The witness was waiting for the police when she sees the suspect.

• The witness waited for the police when she saw the suspect.

• The witness was waiting for the police when she saw the suspect.

By the time the police (arrive), the robber (already/leave) the building.

• had left already

• has already left

• had already left

• was already leaving

She (study) the case for months before she (solve) it.

• She studies the case for months before she solves it.

• She will study the case for months before she solves it.

• She had studied the case for months before she solved it.

• She studied the case for months before she solved it.

While they (investigate), they (discover) new evidence.

• While they were investigating, they discovered new evidence.

• While they investigate, they discover new evidence.

• While they are investigating, they are discovering new evidence.

• While they are investigating, they discovered new evidence.

He (not/realize) he (forget) his wallet until he (try) to pay.

• He realized he forgot his wallet after he paid.

• He did not realize he had forgotten his wallet until he tried to pay.

• He did not realize he had lost his wallet until he tried to pay.

• He realized he had his wallet when he tried to pay.