Special Agent Entrance Practice Exam

In the sentence "They were required to bring three barbecue grills," what does the word "were" exemplify?

1. Present Simple tense

2. Past Progressive tense

3. Present Progressive tense

4. Future Simple tense

The correct answer is: Past Progressive tense

The word "were" in the sentence "They were required to bring three barbecue grills" is an example of the past tense, specifically the past simple tense. This form indicates that the action of being required occurred at a definitive time in the past. In this context, "were" serves as the auxiliary verb that works with "required," signifying that the obligation to bring the grills existed in a past timeframe. Understanding this, it's clear that the correct identification of "were" should align with the past simple tense, whereas the past progressive tense focuses more on actions that were ongoing in the past rather than completed obligations. Thus, interpreting "were" accurately helps in understanding the time frame and nature of the actions discussed in the sentence.