BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Beaten by a locksmith

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 53
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:49 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 2 times
by gmat6087 » Mon Nov 12, 2012 10:48 pm
Before John won the lottery, he was a poor locksmith.

A) won the lottery, he was a poor locksmith.
B) had won the lottery, he was a poor locksmith.
C) won the lottery, he had been a poor locksmith.
D) won the lottery, he were a poor locksmith.
E) wins the lottery, he was a poor locksmith.

OA C

Source aristotle SC guide.

I have one doubt why is not the answer is A here before tells the time. According to MGMAT SC Guide,
She closed the doors before she left for the office. (is a correct sentence). Why the same rule is not applied here.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 58
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:55 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 2 times

by gmatwar13 » Mon Nov 12, 2012 11:09 pm
It is a clear statemen where one event happened in past and other happened before it...
so first event should be simple past but other one should be past perfect. So C

Before states which event happened first. But the sentence should always have correct grammatical order. if there would not have been option C then your option would have been correct.. GMAT prefers clarity...
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 24
Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 8:41 pm
Thanked: 5 times

by naveenchandra kv » Tue Nov 13, 2012 3:14 am
IMO, C is Correct.

Past perfect tense is required to explain sequencing of two events and both the events must be related.

In this case, it holds good.

Use of After/before markers makes it optional to use the past perfect tense. However, if choices are provided with simple past and past perfect tenses, it is advisable to choose the best possible option.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1