Question

Which sentence correctly sequences the underlined verbs?

Gramps was coaching the players when he received the news.
Gramps had been coaching the players when he receives the news.
Gramps was coaching the players when he receives the news.
Gramps had been coaching the players when he recieves the news.

Answer 1

I think the answer would be A

Answer 2

The correct answer is option A. Gramps was coaching the players when he received the news. In this sentence, the verb 'was coaching' is in the past continuous tense and the verb 'received' is in the past simple tense. Usually, these two tenses are used together to show that one action was in progress in the past (the one in the past continuous tense) when another action occurred and interrupted it (the one in the past simple tense). Consequently, in the example provided, 'Gramps was coaching the players' refers to the action that was in progress and 'when he received the news' refers to the action that interrupted the coaching.