When Mike began to work out at 6am, John ().

• A. Had already finished
• B. Has already finished
• C. Had finished
• D. Finishes

Answer: (A)

This question tests sequencing of past events. When Mike began to work out at 6am, that moment is in the past, and John’s action happened even earlier. To show that one past action occurred before another past action, we use the past perfect tense. John had already finished means his finishing was completed before Mike began, and the word already reinforces that there was a clear order between the two past events.

The other options don’t fit the timeline: a present perfect (has finished) or a simple present (finishes) doesn’t anchor to the past moment when Mike began. Had finished would be correct in conveying the order, but without already, the sentence loses that extra emphasis on completion before the start of Mike’s activity.