In a period of time when women typically had a narrow range of choices

For all of you out there who are encountering difficulties with tenses--

Tenses Tip: Do not focus on the relationship between the verbs in different clauses. Look for the time modifier for each individual verb!!

For example: It is perfectly correct to say,

1) I danced last night and will read tonight.
2) I have danced for the past ten years and read every day.
3) I have broken my leg and will not go to work next week.
...

Sentences like these could be created endlessly-- the tenses are entirely independent of one another. They key words/phrases that describe 'when' the action happened "last", "ago", "for ten years"... etc. are what determine the tense of any given verb. (They are called 'time modifiers'.)

Any time modifier that points to a specific point in time in the past ('last', 'ago', 'in', 'on', 'at', 'when', 'until') indicates a need for the past simple.

Any time modifier that involves the present ('since', 'recently', 'lately', 'already', 'yet', 'always', 'never') indicates a need for the present perfect, which combines the present ('have'/'has') and past (V3).

"In a period" and "at a time" are both time modifiers indicating the past simple.

Hope that helps!

Best,
Sarai

For more on tenses, checkout SC Lesson 7 at gmaxonline!

A tip on idiomatic usage of the prepositions in, on, and at:

In describing time, we would I was born "In 1980, in the spring, in May, on Tuesday, at 9:00," right?

Did you notice a pattern? As we move from in to on to at, we move from general to specific.

So use at to express specificity.

Other examples:

The unemployment rate is at 5%.

The students met at 252 Park Ave.

IMO D

In a period of time when women typically have had a narrow range of choices, Mary Baker Eddy became a distinguished writer and the founder, architect, and builder of a growing church.

(A) In a period of time when women typically have
(B) During a time in which typically women have
(C) Typically, during a time when women
(D) At a time when women typically
(E) Typically in a time in which women

Typically is an adverb and should modify the verb "had" in this case. so eliminate B,C,E. In A there is no need for "have" bcoz we r talking abt the past simple past is sufficient.

Hi Sarai

Now between A and D. The split is - in a period of time / at a time.
(A) In a period of time when women typically have -----> I think this is wordy. The author could have said "in times when"
(D) At a time when women typically

And tense issue :
A) In a period of time when women typically have had......, Mary Baker Eddy became a distinguished writer
A)- have had means present perfect. I don't see a reason why there should be a switch from present perfect to past. Present perfect may mean "just 2 minutes ago" but in the past nonetheless.

But there is 100% reason to couple "present perfect" with "present" e.g. a situation which started in the past continues in the present. E.g
Geologists believe that the Bering land bridge, over which human beings are thought to have first entered the Americas, disappeared about 14,000 years ago [geologists used to believe, they still believe and probably they will believe in the future - so we say "human beings have entered" present perfect]

But now see this example -
The success of the program to eradicate smallpox has stimulated experts to pursue something they had not previously considered possible-better control, if not eradication, of such infections as measles and yaws.(Source: GMATPrep)

It uses present perfect with the simple past - and the sentence is correct. So it means there can be different "time frames" in the same sentence, leading to different tenses - we just know about simple past + past perfect coupling but there are many more which are valid. Am I correct?? Pls provide your feedback.

Thanks
mavrik

Hi All,

In a period of time when women typically have had a narrow range of choices, Mary Baker Eddy became a distinguished writer and the founder, architect, and builder of a growing church.



Let us begin by understanding the meaning of this sentence. Mary Baker became a distinguished writer and the founder, architect, and builder of a growing church at a time when women typically had very few choices.



Now let’s spot the errors in the original choice:
1. This sentence is giving us general information about Mary Baker and the time when she did something. All the events must be written in simple past tense. Use of present perfect tense “have had” is incorrect.

Now let’s do the POE to find out which answer choice rectifies these errors:

A. In a period of time when women typically have: Incorrect for the reason discussed above.

B. During a time in which typically women have: Incorrect. Same verb tense error as in choice A.

C. Typically, during a time when women: Incorrect. Here “typically” is modifying “time”. This is not the intended modification.

D. At a time when women typically: Correct.

E. Typically in a time in which women: Incorrect. Same modification error as in choice C.

Hope this helps.
Thanks
Shraddha
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In A and B, the present tense verb have does not match the past tense of the non-underlined verb became. Eliminate A and B.

In C and E, it is unclear what is modified by the adverb typically. Typically seems to be incorrectly modifying the verb became, but the intended meaning of the sentence is not that Mary Baker Eddy typically became a distinguished writer. The intended meaning is quite opposite: that, when Mary became a distinguished writer, women typically had a narrow range of choices. Eliminate C and E.

The correct answer is D.

To answer this question I simply used my ears, but I think POE can also be done on this.

In a period of time when women typically have had narrow range of choices, Mary Baker Eddy became distinguished writer and the founder, architect, and builder of a growing church.
a) In a period of time when women typically have -- present perfect tense is not valid.
b) During a time in which typically women have -- present perfect tense is not valid.
c) Typically, during a time when women -- During (preposition of time) looks ok, But typically is locked outside far from verb it should modify.
typically, during ... time when (relative clause) verb (locked inside relative clause)..., Mary Baker became (verb placed far from typically and typically cant jump over during a time.... Therefore, its placement is not right.

d) At a time when women typically -- here typically is modifying verb inside relative clause, at least it makes sense with such placement.
e) Typically in a time in which women-- women had ..., Mary Baker became... -- run on conjunction required to join 2 ICs.

In a period of time when women typically have had a narrow range of choices, Mary Baker Eddy became a distinguished writer and the founder, architect, and builder of a growing church.

(A) In a period of time when women typically have present perfect tense is not correct
(B) During a time in which typically women havepresent perfect tense is not correct
(C) Typically, during a time when women "typically" must refer to the narrow range of choices women had
(D) At a time when women typically
(E) Typically in a time in which women "typically" must refer to the narrow range of choices women had

(A) and (B) have tense error. have doesn't match with became
(C) and (E) have a modifier error.Typically is incorrectly modifying became and the meaning of the sentence is distorted.
(D) should be the correct answer as there is no error and had is parallel to became.

Meaning - MB became writer at some time, when she had limited range of choices.- these choices are very narrow.
Analysis - modifier should mention the period on when MB became writer.

A - have had is wrong. MB became writer and before that an action happened. ( Women having narrow choices). It's suffice to say had. And it should modify the choices, given typically is adverb. Also, period and time is redundant and awkward.
B - Same reason as above and use of 'in which'
C- Typically MB didn't became writer. She became writer at some situation.
D- Everything is in place so proceed
E-Same error in C

Posted from my mobile device

Official Explanation :

Choices A and B are wrong because have had in the resulting sentence does not correspond lo became; a simple had is needed to match became in referring to past events.

Choice C drops the erroneous have, but Typically is misplaced so that it modifies the main clause; in other words, C says that it was typical for Mary Baker Eddy to become distinguished, not that it was typical for women to have a narrow range of choices.

Choice D is the best answer.

Choice E suffers from the same confusion as choice C does.
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