Select the most appropriate words to fill in the blanks in the given sentence:-

By the time we arrived, the concert _____ and the crowd _____ in the parking lot.

had already ended, had gathered

The correct answer is Option (2) → had already ended, had gathered

This sentence uses the Past Perfect tense to show that two actions were completed before another specific time in the past (the arrival).

1. "By the time we arrived" sets the reference point in the simple past tense.

2. The two actions that happened before this arrival must be in the Past Perfect tense ($\text{had}+\text{Past Participle}$).

   • The concert finished before we arrived, so it is had already ended.

   • The crowd began or completed the action of gathering before we arrived, so it is had gathered.

3. Has ended, was gathering – incorrect because “has ended” is present perfect and does not fit a past context.
   Ended, gather – incorrect because “gather” is simple present and mismatched with “ended.”
   Was ending, gathered – incorrect because “was ending” shows an action in progress, not completed before arrival.