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Past Perfect OR Simple Past (MGMAT Experts please clarify)

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vikram4689 GMAT Titan
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Past Perfect OR Simple Past (MGMAT Experts please clarify) Post Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:39 am
Elapsed Time: 00:00
  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    Though he had had success broadcasting his controversial radio program on highly regulated terrestrial airwaves, Howard Stern opted out of terrestrial broadcasting in favor of the less regulated satellite radio medium.
    a. Though he had had
    b. Though he has had
    c. Even though he had
    d. Having had
    e. Having achieved

    Why C is incorrect
    We use Past perfect when we want to show a transition from one time frame to another frame
    e.g.Before you asked me to stop him, Howard had left for the meeting... here we want to show transition to show act of leaving happened first.

    BUT in the question we are stating a fact then why we need Past Perfect, PAST tense should suffice. Consider following sentences, do you think there is any error in these...
    a/ Though he was successful in engineering, Howard chose consulting as a career
    b/ Though he had success in engineering, Howard chose consulting as a career

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    Last edited by vikram4689 on Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:01 am; edited 4 times in total

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    Post Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:41 am
    IMO: A

    vikram4689 GMAT Titan
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    Post Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:04 am
    Check out the spoiler...
    One instance from OG where Past Perfect Tense is not required because we want to state a FACT. http://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/salt-deposits-and-moisture-t5617.html For ques in link OA is A and difference b/w A and B is Past Perfect and Past Tense

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    Post Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:16 am

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    vikram4689 GMAT Titan
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    Post Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:45 am
    sam2304 wrote:
    Thanks Sam. Most of the discussion in the link revolves around understanding how "had had" is a valid construction. Although i do understand the construction, i am doubtful of using it for question in in hand. Please refer to my 2 examples in spoiler and OG ques at http://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/salt-deposits-and-moisture-t5617.html

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    vikram4689 GMAT Titan
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    Post Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:05 am
    Anyone who would like to give it a shot !

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    Post Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:50 am
    Past perfect is used when we are unsure of the time frame - as in to bring importance to which event occurred first and got completed.

    In the actual question past perfect is used because Howard switched after he attained success in X. In your example success in engineering indicate completion of course otherwise he is a failure and choosing a career comes after that so we don't need the past perfect tense here. Both the sentences are right as per my understanding and it may go wrong as well, so wait for some experts to clarify. Smile

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    Post Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:28 am
    vikram4689 wrote:
    Though he had had success broadcasting his controversial radio program on highly regulated terrestrial airwaves, Howard Stern opted out of terrestrial broadcasting in favor of the less regulated satellite radio medium.
    a. Though he had had
    b. Though he has had
    c. Even though he had
    d. Having had
    e. Having achieved
    If both verbs (had and opted) are in the same tense, the implication is that Howard Stern was BROADCASTING his program on the terrestrial airwaves at the same time as he OPTED OUT of terrestrial broadcasting -- a nonsensical meaning.
    The past perfect in A (had had) makes the sequence of events clear.

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    Post Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:10 am
    Thanks Mitch i got the gist and the meaning of examples i formed
    a/ Though he was successful in engineering, Howard chose consulting as a career
    b/ Though he had success in engineering, Howard chose consulting as a career

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