At the end of the 1930's, Duke Ellington was looking for a composer to

Hi All,
I understand the correct answer . What I want to know is why past perfect tense is used towards the end of the sentence " he had started but never completed "
Is " never completed " is the 2nd action ??

Dear badribaba1984,

Suppose you have a correlative conjunction (e.g. "not only ... but also", "both ... and", "either ... or", etc.) linking two terms, X and Y, and you have some common words (here, the common word is "could") --- there are two grammatically correct options.
1) have the common word appear once before the first conjunction:
...could not only X but also Y.
or
2) repeat the common word after each part of the conjunction:
...not only could X but also could Y.

The classic mistake, wrong 100% of the time on the GMAT SC, is to have the common word appear once after the first part of the conjunction and not appear after the second conjunction:
...not only could X but also Y. = ALWAYS INCORRECT

See this blog for more:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/common-par ... orrection/

Does all that make sense? Let me know if you have any more questions.

Mike

Dear targetdec31,
In general, the past perfect is used to show one past action happened before another. The main verb in this sentence is the "was looking". Think about the sequence of action ----
(a) Duke Ellington started composing some pieces
(b) Then, he realized, gee, I'm not going to have time to finish them
(c) Then, having realized that, he starts looking for someone to help him.
Thus, the "starting", way back at step (a), is well before (c), the action of the main verb of the sentence. That's why the (a)-action has to be in the past perfect.

My friend, always think about logic. People think SC is only about grammar, but the logic underlies the grammar and determines it.

Does all this make sense?
Mike

Dear Mike ,
Thanks for the prompt reply . Yes the sequence makes sense and is now clear to me .
But I had this misconception that if past perfect represents first action than 2nd action is in simple past .
Here 2nd action i.e. the main action is " was looking "and is in past continuous .
So the 2nd action can be in both Simple past and past continuous . Is my takeaway correct ?

Dear targetdec31,
The past progressive is the formal name for what you are calling the "past continuous". See:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/gmat-verbs ... ive-tense/
Yes, the progressive transformation of verbs changes whether the object was continuously happening, but it doesn't change the time sequence. Thus, if Past Action #1 happens before Past Action #2, then
Past Action #1 could be in the past perfect (had visited) or past perfect progressive (had been visiting)
Past Action #2 could be in the simple past (returned) or in the past progressive (was returning)
We can mix and match --- either #1 or #2 or both could be progressive, depending on the action. Whether either verb takes the progressive form or not does not change at all the fundamental relation of perfect-to-past.
Does all this make sense?
Mike

Dear honchos,
I'm happy to respond. In (D) and (E), the uses of the phrase "being someone" are pure trainwrecks. They are not just wrong: they are so bad that they deserve to be taken out back and shot. They are atrociously wrong. They are inexcusable and uncompromisingly irredeemable. There is nothing remotely good about them.

The correct structure is an appositive phrase, for which see:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/gmat-gramm ... e-phrases/
For this structure, the word "being" is entirely superfluous. The word "being" is most often incorrect when it appears on the GMAT SC. Its correct appearances are few and far between. Always be deeply suspicious of the word "being" when it appears.

Does all this make sense?
Mike

At the end of the 1930s, Duke Ellington was looking for a composer to assist him-someone not only who could arrange music for his successful big band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style as well in order to finish the many pieces he had started but never completed.

Analysis: Qualities of SOMEONE are defined in the later half of the sentence and these qualities have to be parallel; Not only..but also is a clear indication for such parallelism
(A) someone not only who could arrange music for his successful big band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style as well in order to finish--not parallel

(B) someone who could not only arrange music for his successful big band, but also mirror his eccentric writing style in order to finish--ok

(C) someone who not only could arrange music for his successful big band, but also to mirror his eccentric writing style in finishing--not only VERB but also INFINITIVE is not parallel construction; in order to finish is correct

(D) that being someone who could not only arrange music for his successful big band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style for finishing- not parallel; THAT BEING SOMEONE is strange and awkward

(E) being someone not only who could arrange music for his successful big band, but mirror his eccentric writing style as well, finishing--not parallel

A "Not only... but also" parallel marker is missing here.
B Correct
C Infinitive "to mirror" is not parallel with the modal auxiliary verb "could"
D "That being" is redundant and unnecessary. "Not only... but also" parallel marker is missing.
E "Not only... but also" parallel marker is missing.

Hello Mike

If a sentence has "but also" then is it necessary that it should also have "not only" before it?

Dear Shiv2016,,

I'm happy to respond, my friend.

In the big broad world of the English language, no, absolutely not. We certainly could have have "but also" without any "not" statement before it.
Albert Schweitzer was a medical doctor but also a scholar of classical music.

That's what's true in the big broad world of English. Now, in the somewhat more limited scope of the GMAT, could you see something such as this? Yes, it is fair game. The "not only . . . but also" is a common parallel marker, but we can't become too attached, in a dogmatic way, to this exact formulation. Multiple variations exist within perfectly accepted English.

Does all this make sense?
Mike

"B" is the correct choice: not only, but also usage is correct.

A - not only, ... but also should be there
C - not only could.... but also to (preposition) usage is incorrect (not parallel)
"D" and "E" avoid because of "being" usage

A someone not only who could arrange music for his successful band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style as well in order to finish - Not only who - not a recommended construction - Incorrect

B someone who could not only arrange music for his successful band, but also mirror his eccentric writing style in order to finish - Correct form of Not only but also - Correct

C someone who not only could arrange music for his successful band, but also to mirror his eccentric style in writing - Not only could , but also - not correct form of usage - Incorrect

D that being someone who could not only arrange music for his successful big band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style for finishing - Not only but is not right way of usage - Incorrect

E being someone not only who could arrange music for his successful big band, but mirror his eccentric writing style as well, finishing - Not only but is not right way of usage

A someone not only who could arrange music for his successful band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style as well in order to finish

B someone who could not only arrange music for his successful band, but also mirror his eccentric writing style in order to finish

C someone who not only could arrange music for his successful band, but also to mirror his eccentric style in writing

D that being someone who could not only arrange music for his successful big band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style for finishing

E being someone not only who could arrange music for his successful big band, but mirror his eccentric writing style as well, finishing

Not only arrange, but also Y mirror. (Correct usage)

If we vertically scan options, we can see not only in all choices. This question uses idiom pair 'not only X ....bust also Y'. Here X and Y must be parallel.

In option A, not only 'who could '....is not parallel to but 'mirroring'..... Eliminate
In option B, not only 'arrange' ....is parallel to but also 'mirror'....
In option C, not only 'could arrange'....is not parallel to but also 'to mirror'.... Eliminate
In option D, not only 'arrange' is not parallel to but 'mirroring'....... Eliminate
In option E, not only 'who could '..... is not parallel to but 'mirror'.... Eliminate

So, only option B is parallel.


You can watch video solution at


https://youtu.be/eYtW-vucXsg

Hello Everyone!

Let's tackle this question, one problem at a time, and get to the correct answer quickly! Before we dive in, here is the original question with the major differences between each option highlighted in orange:

At the end of the 1930's, Duke Ellington was looking for a composer to assist him-someone not only who could arrange music for his successful band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style as well in order to finish the many pieces he had started but never completed.

A) someone not only who could arrange music for his successful band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style as well in order to finish
B) someone who could not only arrange music for his successful band, but also mirror his eccentric writing style in order to finish
C) someone who not only could arrange music for his successful band, but also to mirror his eccentric style in writing
D) that being someone who could not only arrange music for his successful big band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style for finishing
E) being someone not only who could arrange music for his successful big band, but mirror his eccentric writing style as well, finishing

After a quick glance over all the options, it's clear that we're dealing with an issue of idiomatic structure! Any time we see a phrase with "not only...but also," we know that we should start there to rule out any incorrect answers quickly.

The idiomatic structure is:

Not only X, but also Y.

For this to work, both X and Y must be written using parallel format. Let's take a closer look at each option to see which ones follow the format, and rule out the ones who don't:

A) someone not only who could arrange music for his successful band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style as well in order to finish

This is INCORRECT because it doesn't follow the "not only...but also..." format. It only says "not only...but...," which is wrong. It also doesn't use parallel format with the verbs (arrange/mirroring).

B) someone who could not only arrange music for his successful band, but also mirror his eccentric writing style in order to finish

This is CORRECT because it uses the proper "not only...but also..." structure, and each part is written using a similar format.

C) someone who not only could arrange music for his successful band, but also to mirror his eccentric style in writing

While this does use the proper "not only...but also..." format, the two phrases are NOT written using parallel structure. For this to work, it would have to say "not only could arrange music...but also could mirror his eccentric style...." Therefore, this is INCORRECT.

D) that being someone who could not only arrange music for his successful big band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style for finishing

This is INCORRECT because it doesn't use the "not only...but also..." format - it says "not only...but...," which is wrong. It also doesn't use parallel format with the verbs (arrange/mirroring).

E) being someone not only who could arrange music for his successful big band, but mirror his eccentric writing style as well, finishing

This is INCORRECT because it doesn't use the proper "not only...but also..." format - it says "not only...but...," which is wrong. It also doesn't use parallel format with the verbs and phrasing (who could arrange/mirror).

There you go - B is the correct option! If you familiarize yourself with common idiomatic structures, these are some of the quickest and easiest GMAT questions to answer!


Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.

At the end of the 1930's, Duke Ellington was looking for a composer to assist him-someone not only who could arrange music for his successful band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style as well in order to finish the many pieces he had started but never completed.

A someone not only who could arrange music for his successful band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style as well in order to finish
B someone who could not only arrange music for his successful band, but also mirror his eccentric writing style in order to finish
C someone who not only could arrange music for his successful band, but also to mirror his eccentric style in writing
D that being someone who could not only arrange music for his successful big band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style for finishing
E being someone not only who could arrange music for his successful big band, but mirror his eccentric writing style as well, finishing

Idiom: not only / but also so we can eliminate A, D,E
C is not parallel after the idiom

At the end of the 1930's, Duke Ellington was looking for a composer to assist him-someone not only who could arrange music for his successful band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style as well in order to finish the many pieces he had started but never completed.

Rule:
Idiom: not only X but [also] Y. X, Y - must me parallel

A someone not only who could arrange music for his successful band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style as well in order to finish
B someone who could not only arrange music for his successful band, but also mirror his eccentric writing style in order to finish
C someone who not only could arrange music for his successful band, but also to mirror his eccentric style in writing
D that being someone who could not only arrange music for his successful big band, but mirroring his eccentric writing style for finishing
E being someone not only who could arrange music for his successful big band, but mirror his eccentric writing style as well, finishing