Question on Pase perfect/Past tense

Expert replies

aaggar7: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 124; Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:48 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 9 times

by aaggar7 » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:08 pm

His studies of ice-polished rocks in his Alpine homeland, far outside the range of present-day
glaciers, led Louis Agassiz in 1837 to propose the concept of an age in which great ice sheets had
existed in now currently temperate areas.

(A) in which great ice sheets had existed in now
currently temperate areas

(B) in which great ice sheets existed in what are
now temperate areas

(C) when great ice sheets existed where there were
areas now temperate

(D) when great ice sheets had existed in current
temperate areas

(E) when great ice sheets existed in areas now that
are temperate

Here,we are talking of two actions that took place in past "led" and "had existed".So is the usage of past perfect tense "had existed" incorrect?

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:08 pm

Nachiket: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 69; Joined: Fri Mar 08, 2013 3:09 am; Thanked: 6 times

by Nachiket » Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:44 pm

aaggar7 wrote:His studies of ice-polished rocks in his Alpine homeland, far outside the range of present-day
glaciers, led Louis Agassiz in 1837 to propose the concept of an age in which great ice sheets had
existed in now currently temperate areas.

(A) in which great ice sheets had existed in now
currently temperate areas

(B) in which great ice sheets existed in what are
now temperate areas

(C) when great ice sheets existed where there were
areas now temperate

(D) when great ice sheets had existed in current
temperate areas

(E) when great ice sheets existed in areas now that
are temperate

Here,we are talking of two actions that took place in past "led" and "had existed".So is the usage of past perfect tense "had existed" incorrect?

It should be simple past tense.

My pick B.

Usage of Past Perfect makes more sense when the sequence of events is ambiquious in the sentence.
In such scenarios, we use past perfect to remove the ambiquity.

Stay Hungry , Stay Foolish !!

Lifetron: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 308; Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:51 amFollowed by: 3 members; Thanked: 16 times

by Lifetron » Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:46 pm

https://www.beatthegmat.com/in-which-vs- ... 71140.html

Featured schoolRound 2 closes Jan 7, 2027 67 days left

Chicago Booth

Since 1982, 10 Booth faculty members have received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, more than any other business school.

#3
U.S. News rank: $175,000
Median base salary: 670
Average GMAT Focus: 635
Students in the class

Apply to Booth Visit chicagobooth.edu See the full profile

Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0

GMAT Course Reviews

563 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (563 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review