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 →

Past Perfect Tense with "Before"

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:03 pm
by spucmu » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:15 pm
I thought that "Past Perfect" tense should only be used if sequence of verb is not clear but attached Kaplan question th"rew me off.

I understand the obvious mistake in this question is the use of "known as" but I didn't get why the use of "had" required when "Before" is already specified.
Attachments
SC-Question-PerfectTense.JPG
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 144
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2010 9:17 amFollowed by: 4 members
Thanked: 40 times
GMAT Score:760

by jaymw » Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:02 pm
When two events happened in the past, but one of them earlier than the other, then the earlier event has to be in the past perfect tense while the subsequent event has to be in the past tense.

The word "before" indicates that one event happened before another.

Example: Before I took the GMAT, I had studied a lot.

-> I took the GMAT in the past. I also studied for it in the past. Logically, I studied BEFORE I took the GMAT, and not WHILE taking it or afterwards. This sequence has to be made clear by using the past perfect tense for the event that happened first.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1