Last visit was: 20 Nov 2025, 04:35 It is currently 20 Nov 2025, 04:35
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
dyermako
User avatar
Joined: 29 Dec 2020
Last visit: 08 Aug 2022
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
8
Given Kudos: 5
Posts: 19
Kudos: 8
Please explain the difference in meaning in these 2 sentences 25 Jan 2021, 22:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
By the end of World War II, America had dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.

By the end of World War II, America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.

Is one of these incorrect completely or do they differ in meaning only?

Thank you for your help!

Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 20 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
Please explain the difference in meaning in these 2 sentences 26 Jan 2021, 02:04
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Yes, second sentence would be incorrect. We can fix it by:

At the end of World War II, America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.

Please refer to this post for further information on this issue.
User avatar
HoneyLemon
User avatar
Stern School Moderator
Joined: 26 May 2020
Last visit: 02 Oct 2023
Posts: 628
Own Kudos:
565
Given Kudos: 219
Status:Spirited
Concentration: General Management, Technology
Schools: Stern '23 LBS '23 Said '23 IIMB EPGP'22 INSEAD Jan'23 intake
WE:Analyst (Computer Software)
Schools: Stern '23 LBS '23 Said '23 IIMB EPGP'22 INSEAD Jan'23 intake
Posts: 628
Kudos: 565
Please explain the difference in meaning in these 2 sentences 26 Jan 2021, 03:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
dyermako
By the end of World War II, America had dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.

By the end of World War II, America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.

Is one of these incorrect completely or do they differ in meaning only?

Thank you for your help!
Show more

imo, 1st sentence is correct .

As it depicts the correct meaning , the action [dropping of bomb] started before world war II and by the end of world war the action was completed ..
User avatar
sudeshpatodiya
User avatar
Joined: 10 Jan 2014
Last visit: 05 Apr 2021
Posts: 92
Own Kudos:
107
Given Kudos: 57
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Finance
Schools: ISB'22 IIMA PGPX'22 XLRI IIMB EPGP'22 IIMC PGPEX'22 NUS '23 WBS HEC'22 (J)
WE:General Management (Transportation)
Schools: ISB'22 IIMA PGPX'22 XLRI IIMB EPGP'22 IIMC PGPEX'22 NUS '23 WBS HEC'22 (J)
Posts: 92
Kudos: 107
Please explain the difference in meaning in these 2 sentences 26 Jan 2021, 08:04
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
By the end of World War II, America had dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.

By the end of World War II, America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.

Is one of these incorrect completely or do they differ in meaning only?

Thank you for your help!
Show more

If there are 2 events in the past, the previous event uses Past Perfect and the later event uses Simple past.

Previous event - America did something
Later event - World war II ended

So, we have to use Past perfect for the previous event
Correct: By the end of World War II, America had dropped two atomic bombs on Japan
Incorrect: By the end of World War II, America dropped two atomic bombs on Japan

Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
Moderators:
miag
189 posts
u1983
Current Student
710 posts
MikeScarn
Current Student
275 posts