The trader complained that he ------------------ robbed

Analyze the question The sentence is: "The trader complained that he ------ robbed." This is reported (indirect) speech. The reporting verb "complained" is in the past tense, so the verb in the clause that follows must shift back in time (backshift).

Explain the concept When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the reported clause moves one step back:

• Present perfect → Past perfect ("has been robbed" → "had been robbed")
• Simple past → Past perfect
• Present continuous → Past continuous ("is being robbed" → "was being robbed")

Work through the options The trader's original words were probably: "I have been robbed." The robbery had already happened before he complained, so it is a completed event. In reported speech this becomes "he had been robbed."

• A. had been: past perfect passive, the correct backshift of "has been robbed". ✔
• B. has been: present perfect, which does not agree with the past reporting verb "complained". ✘
• C. was being: past continuous passive, which suggests the robbery was happening while he complained. This is unlikely, and it is not the natural reading. ✘
• D. is being: present continuous, which has the same tense-agreement problem as B. ✘

Answer The correct option is A. had been.

Exam tip When the reporting verb is in the past tense (said, told, complained, explained), look for the past or past perfect form in the reported clause. Options in the present tense (has, is, are) can almost always be eliminated straight away.