EducationAisle
aalekhoza
“WHEN” already describes sequencing of events so we need not use past perfect tense in the sentence. It is really not required in the above sentence.
Hi
aalekhoza, for one thing,
when does
not necessarily depict
sequencing of events;
when can also show two events happening
simultaneously. For example:
When British ruled India, India's economy suffered significantly.In the above sentence, British ruling India and India's economy suffering were
simultaneous actions.
In fact, even when the sequence of events is very
clear (for example, as a result of markers such as
before), then also, GMAT seems to prefer an
explicit usage of past perfect. There are many such official examples:
The personal income tax did not become permanent in the United States until the First World War; before that time the federal government had depended on tariffs as its main source of revenue.
Thank you
EducationAisle for your response.
I was not actually disputing the fact that we cannot use past perfect tense when words such as before, after, when, etc. already define sequencing.
All I meant to say and wanted to ask was if the statement were written that way, that is, in this way :
Quote:
I was at the circus for only half an hour when the assailant struck; ever since the stabbing, I have been terribly afraid of clowns
Would it be the best choice? Maybe because the above choice is succinct?
And I also meant that it is just
not required. Usage of past perfect with sequencing words is not incorrect but redundant. Is this true? If yes, then I need not change anything in my notes for GMAT but if it is mandatory to use past perfect anyway, then I might have to change my notes a bit.