Live GMAT classes with Target Test Prep start Nov 21 and Nov 22. First class free.

See classes
Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep

Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
GMATLiveTeachStarts Nov 22
Josh Braslow, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Josh Braslow, 20+ years in test prep

Nov 22 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemandStart anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

with

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemandStart anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 563 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Using Before

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Subscribe topic
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2011 1:13 pm
Thanked: 1 times
by abhicoolmax » Sun Jul 10, 2011 1:14 pm
According to MGMAT SC,
The word before and after indicate the sequence of events clearly and emphatically enough to make the use of Past Perfect unnecessary.
eg. RIGHT: Laura LOCKED the deadbolt before she LEFT for work.

However, According to Aristotle SC,
RIGHT: Before John won the lottery, he had been a poor locksmith.
WRONG: Before John won the lottery, he was a poor locksmith.
also,
RIGHT: John had traveled to many different countries before he decided to settle down in New Zealand

I am now confused. What is the right usage? Should I use past perfect/past perfect continuous OR simple past when the sentence already has an emphatic preposition, such as before, indicating time previous to another past event?

Can anybody please help me understand?
Top
Join the discussion
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2193
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:30 pmFollowed by: 512 members
Location: Vermont and Boston, MA
Thanked: 1186 times
GMAT Score:770

by David@VeritasPrep » Sun Jul 10, 2011 5:56 pm
Go with Manhattan on this one..."Laura locked the deadbolt..." is a good sentence.

I would say that both the "right" and (supposedly) "wrong" lottery sentences seem clear to me.

The past perfect works and the simple past works here.

Listen, we all want to know some solid rules that we can memorize but it is more a matter of what if clear and what is logical. Despite what we are constantly told, The GMAT is not really trying to force you to learn things about English that only English majors focus on. So if the sentence is clear that is usually a good sign.
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor

Veritas Prep Reviews
Save $100 off any live Veritas Prep GMAT Course
Top
Join the discussion
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2011 1:13 pm
Thanked: 1 times

by abhicoolmax » Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:28 pm
David@VeritasPrep wrote:Go with Manhattan on this one..."Laura locked the deadbolt..." is a good sentence.

I would say that both the "right" and (supposedly) "wrong" lottery sentences seem clear to me.

The past perfect works and the simple past works here.

Listen, we all want to know some solid rules that we can memorize but it is more a matter of what if clear and what is logical. Despite what we are constantly told, The GMAT is not really trying to force you to learn things about English that only English majors focus on. So if the sentence is clear that is usually a good sign.
But what if I see 2 options as I listed above. Only ONE can be correct no? Aristotle book has these exact choices. You think they chose the wrong answer as correct?
Top
Join the discussion
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2193
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:30 pmFollowed by: 512 members
Location: Vermont and Boston, MA
Thanked: 1186 times
GMAT Score:770

by David@VeritasPrep » Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:35 pm
No I don't think Aristotle's choice was wrong, I am saying that I think that it is a False Decision. In other words, both seem acceptable to me. No way and no need to decide.

It is like trying to make a decision between "probably" and "maybe" you really should try everything else first.

I would never want to make the decision that Aristotle mentions. Both seem good and there will be a different choice in the sentence that will allow you to not even consider this. That is why I like to see sentence correction In Context. Each answer choice usually has more than one way to distinguish.
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor

Veritas Prep Reviews
Save $100 off any live Veritas Prep GMAT Course
Top
Join the discussion