any other tense for so far

[mehmetmamger]

So far, they ---- enough tombs ---- at any clear understanding of the rituals and lives of these ancient people.

A) had not excavated / to arrive
B) have not excavated / to have arrived
C) could not have excavated / having arrived
D) would not excavate / arriving
E) are not excavating / to have arrived

What would be your answer for this question? If B, what justifes the usage of "to have arrived" ?

Thank you very much in advance.

You can already see a discussion on the subject within the link below:
http://www.dilforum.com/showthread.p...6471#post26471

[MrPedantic]

Hello MM, welcome to UsingEnglish! It's good to see you here.

I would accept either A or B: the context for A is a past excavation; the context for B, a present excavation.

On the question of the perfect infinitive: in B, it might well be replaced with "to arrive", i.e.

2a. So far, they haven't excavated enough tombs to arrive at any clear understanding of the rituals and lives of these ancient people.

— here, we are imagining the point where enough tombs have been excavated and clear understanding is ensuing. Hence the present infinitive.

2b. So far, they haven't excavated enough tombs to have arrived at any clear understanding of the rituals and lives of these ancient people.

— here, we are imagining the point where enough tombs have been excavated, and clear understanding has already ensued. Hence the perfect infinitive.

See you,
MrP

[mehmetmamger]

Hello MrPedantic,
Actually KİLİ changed the name of the thread just to attract your attention, but we missed you there. Meanwhile, it is nice to be a newbie, the name of which do not imply any responsibility feeling. :)

[MrPedantic]

I'm sorry, I don't know how I missed it!