Questão 7 Consider the following situation: You’ve just been offered a position as a lecturer at the University of Sao Paulo. Your area concerns English and English Translation Studies. It has been your first week with your students, and they’re handing in some writing activities. While you’re reading their translations, a statement gets your attention: "They were happy because they _____ (finish) the project on time". The student did not know which verb tense to apply. Now you are supposed to correct the sentence by filling the blank with the only correct verb form and the reason given: A) had finished – If they were happy there must be something that caused this happiness, so it happens before they become happy, and that's why you may use the past perfect here. B) will have finished - It's like in Portuguese, you may say something in the future in the past. C) have finished – when you are happy about something, does this something happen before or after the moment you become happy? After, right? D) had finished – I'll explain to you that the reason they had to finish the action is their happiness. This action occurs at the same time they finish. That's why you must use the past perfect tense. E) were finishing – Finishing is a long action that happens while a short action (be happy) occurs. That's why it's perfect.