She was, She'll be, she's

[Treetrunks]

I am brushing up on my grammar. It has been a longtime!

I am using a Cambridge textbook, Essential Grammar in Use, and are a little perplexed to one of the answers.


At the end of her trip........................................very tired.

I answered 'she was' but apparently the answer is 'she'll be'. I can't figure out why. All help appreciated.

[Barb_D]

The question is impossible to answer.
Was the trip in the past? She was.
Is the trip in the future and you are making a prediction? She'll be.

Unless there is context to suggest that the trip is completed or future, you can't possibly come up with "the" correct answer.

[mathias_r]

I think, I've found the exercise you've mentioned. The task, as written in the book, is "Helen is traveling in South America. Complete the sentences with she was, she’s, or she’ll be."

So, the end of her trip refers to the end of her traveling in South America. Since the task description tells us that she's currently traveling and therefore her trip hasn't ended yet, you need to use future.

[Mohammadhelmi]

At the end of her trip........................................very tired.

I answered 'she was' but apparently the answer is 'she'll be'. I can't figure out why. All help appreciated.[/QUOTE]

It is possible to say she was or she will be depending on the situation or the context.
If the trip is finished, you say she was.
but if the trip is in the future, you say she will be.
So, there must be a context to make the meaning clear.

[Treetrunks]

I think, I've found the exercise you've mentioned. The task, as written in the book, is "Helen is traveling in South America. Complete the sentences with she was, she’s, or she’ll be."

So, the end of her trip refers to the end of her traveling in South America. Since the task description tells us that she's currently traveling and therefore her trip hasn't ended yet, you need to use future.

WOW, fast responses!!!

Thanks everyone. I'll probably be back again soon with more silly queries.

Regards :)