abhicoolmax wrote:
gb8 wrote:
Construction of the Roman Colosseum, which was officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, began in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian, was completed a decade later, during the reign of Titus, who opened the Colosseum with a one-hundred-day cycle of religious pageants, gladiatorial games, and spectacles.
A. which was officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, began in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian,
B. officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, begun in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian, and
C. which was officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, began in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian, and
D. officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater and begun in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian it
E. officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, which was begun in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian, and
Could somebody please please explain me why BEGAN is correct? Doesn't this need HAD BEGUN?
Seems to me like the reason why C is correct is because it is the "best" of the available choices, and there is NO HAD BEGUN in any of the option, CORRECT? Somebody please explain.
Actually, it'd unnecessary to use "Had Begun" (Past Perfect) in this scenario and there are reasons:
1. A construction can never finish before it begins. So, we already know the sequence of events.
2. completed a decade later; the word "later" clearly signifies that the event of completion occurred after the beginning of the construction.
Modifiers:
which was officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater
AND
officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater
Are both correct, with latter more elegant and GMAT style. However, we decide the correctness of the sentence on the basis of these modifiers because they both are correct.
A. which was officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, began in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian,
Let's shorten:
Construction began in A.D. 69 was completed later.
Two discrete events with two verbs "began" and "was" makes the sentence wrong. These verbs must be separated by AND.
B. officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, begun in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian, and
"begun in A.D. 69"-- acts as a modifier for Roman Colosseum; Roman Colosseum begun in AD 69: what does this mean?
Construction during the reign of Vespasian was completed a decade later: decade later of what.
Bad.
C. which was officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, began in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian, and
Correct.
Construction began in A.D. 69 and was completed a decade later.
Construction had begun in A.D. 69 and completed a decade later. Guess this is correct as well.
D. officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater and begun in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian it
Same error as B's. Roman Colosseum begun in AD 69.
E. officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, which was begun in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian, and
", and" -- demands a clause when the later part is a phrase
"was completed a decade later"-- No subject.
Roman Colosseum was begun in AD 69.