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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
rakesh22 wrote:
After the Civil War, contemporaries of Harriet Tubman’s maintained that she has all of the qualities of a great leader: coolness in the face of danger, an excellent sense of strategy, and an ability to plan in minute detail.
(A) Tubman’s maintained that she has
(B) Tubman’s maintain that she had
(C) Tubman’s have maintained that she had
(D) Tubman maintained that she had
(E) Tubman had maintained that she has
Concepts tested here: Tenses + Awkwardness/Redundancy• The simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
• The past perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "has" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Further, Option A redundantly uses the possessive noun "Harriet Tubman's" alongside the preposition "of"; this usage is redundant, as both convey a sense of possession.
B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "maintain" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Further, Option B redundantly uses the possessive noun "Harriet Tubman's" alongside the preposition "of"; this usage is redundant, as both convey a sense of possession.
C: This answer choice incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb "have maintained" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present. . Further, Option C redundantly uses the possessive noun "Harriet Tubman's" alongside the preposition "of"; this usage is redundant, as both convey a sense of possession.
D: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses the simple past tense verbs "maintained" and "had" to refer to actions that concluded in the past. Further, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
E: his answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "has" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had maintained" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
Hence, D is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Past Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team