Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: After he arrives from office
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This sentence improvement question tests tense consistency in complex sentences that describe habitual actions. The original sentence is: (After he arrived) from office, he goes to gym. The bracketed part is the portion to be improved. The sentence talks about what typically happens every time he comes from the office, so the choice of tense in the introductory clause must match this sense of routine or habit.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
When describing routine or habitual actions that happen regularly, English generally uses the simple present tense. If both clauses refer to such regular behaviour, both should be in the simple present to show that this is a repeated pattern, not a one time event. Therefore, the clause should read After he arrives from office, he goes to the gym. Using the past tense arrived suggests a specific event in the past rather than a repeating habit, which creates inconsistency with goes in the main clause.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the tense of the main clause: he goes to gym, which is simple present.Step 2: Decide the time reference. The sentence describes what he usually does every time he returns from office, so the whole statement is about a general habit.Step 3: For habitual actions, the correct tense is simple present in both clauses: After he arrives from office, he goes to the gym.Step 4: Check Option C: After he arrives from office. This uses the simple present arrives, matching the tense and habitual sense of the main clause.Step 5: Check Option A: After he had being arriving from office. This is grammatically incorrect; had being arriving is not a valid tense form.Step 6: Check Option B: After he had arrived from office. This is past perfect, which is used for sequences of past events, not repeated present routines, so it clashes with goes.Step 7: Check Option D: No improvement. The original After he arrived from office is inconsistent with goes in the main clause.Step 8: Conclude that Option C is the correct improvement.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, compare similar sentences describing habits: After he finishes his work, he goes for a walk or When she reaches home, she calls her parents. In each case, both clauses use the simple present tense to indicate a regular pattern. If we changed them to After he finished his work, he goes for a walk, the sentence would sound inconsistent. Likewise, After he arrives from office, he goes to the gym is the natural habitual form. This supports Option C as the correct choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to mix past and present tenses in a single sentence describing habits or general truths, resulting in confusion about the time reference. Another pitfall is overusing complex tenses like past perfect even when the simple present or simple past would be more appropriate. When a sentence describes what usually happens every day, the safest and most accurate choice is usually the simple present in both clauses.
Final Answer:
The correct improved sentence is After he arrives from office, he goes to gym.
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