Verb Tense

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rockeyb: Legendary Member; Posts: 537; Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:15 amFollowed by: 1 member; Location: Nagpur , India; Thanked: 41 times

by rockeyb » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:23 am

Here are a couple of sentences I have trouble identifying what is the correct version for each of them . Please give reasons for your answer .

The sentences are from Kaplan .

1.Subway :

(A) I had been on the subway for 30 mins before I realized I was going the wrong direction .

(B) I was on the subway for 30 mins before I realized I was going the wrong direction.

Which one is correct and why ?

2. Movie :

(A) He had seen that movie recently , so he dosen't want to see it tonight .

(B) He has seen that movie recently , so he dosen't want to see it tonight .

(C) He saw that movie recently , so he dosen't want to see it tonight .

Which one is correct and why ?

"Know thyself" and "Nothing in excess"

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:23 am

Shawshank: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 305; Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:38 am; Thanked: 10 times

by Shawshank » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:33 am

rockeyb wrote:Here are a couple of sentences I have trouble identifying what is the correct version for each of them . Please give reasons for your answer .

The sentences are from Kaplan .

1.Subway :

(A) I had been on the subway for 30 mins before I realized I was going the wrong direction .

(B) I was on the subway for 30 mins before I realized I was going the wrong direction.

Which one is correct and why ?

2. Movie :

(A) He had seen that movie recently , so he dosen't want to see it tonight .

(B) He has seen that movie recently , so he dosen't want to see it tonight .

(C) He saw that movie recently , so he dosen't want to see it tonight .

Which one is correct and why ?

Hey Rocky,

Let me give this a shot.

1) IMO -- B ..

After/before when used in a sentence then it is advisable not to use past perfect tense.

2) In this case as per me (A) is wrong as the word "recently" is used. Between "B" and "C" , I would go with "C"
as the action has already been completed.
IMO -- C

Correct me if am wrong guys.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Shawshank Redemtion -- Hope is still alive ...

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pops: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 148; Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:06 pm; Thanked: 7 times

by pops » Wed Mar 31, 2010 3:15 am

rockeyb wrote:Here are a couple of sentences I have trouble identifying what is the correct version for each of them . Please give reasons for your answer .

The sentences are from Kaplan .

1.Subway :

(A) I had been on the subway for 30 mins before I realized I was going the wrong direction .

(B) I was on the subway for 30 mins before I realized I was going the wrong direction.

Which one is correct and why ?

2. Movie :

(A) He had seen that movie recently , so he dosen't want to see it tonight .

(B) He has seen that movie recently , so he dosen't want to see it tonight .

(C) He saw that movie recently , so he dosen't want to see it tonight .

Which one is correct and why ?

1. Incorrect use of past perfect tense in A: had been. Even when usage of 'was' was fine
2.
A. Again incorrect use of past perfect. Past perfect should be used when there are 2 verbs in the sentence. One with past perfect other with simple past.
B. present perfect is used when an action started in the past and continued in the present. This is not the case here so Incorrect.
C. Correct !

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rockeyb: Legendary Member; Posts: 537; Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:15 amFollowed by: 1 member; Location: Nagpur , India; Thanked: 41 times

by rockeyb » Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:20 am

pops wrote:
1. Incorrect use of past perfect tense in A: had been. Even when usage of 'was' was fine
2.
A. Again incorrect use of past perfect. Past perfect should be used when there are 2 verbs in the sentence. One with past perfect other with simple past.
B. present perfect is used when an action started in the past and continued in the present. This is not the case here so Incorrect.
C. Correct !

In the second sentence are you so sure that the Present Perfect tense should not be used .

present perfect is used when an action started in the past and continued in the present

Let me correct you here Present perfect tense is used when action started in past continued in to present OR if effect of a completed action continues in present .

Ex : The child HAS DRAWN a square on the sand .

The action of drawing is completed in past but the effect is still there . The square is still there on the sand .

Keeping this in mind are you sure you can rule out Present Perfect Tense ?

Also coming to the 1 st question as said its a sentence from kaplan , so is it grammatically incorrect or just that you prefer the second option better ?

Think again .

"Know thyself" and "Nothing in excess"

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