Denying that one of its many irregularities had been the long-term mis

Question

Competition Mode Question

Denying that one of  its many irregularities had been the long-term  mismanaging of company funds, the AD & M company produced clear evidence to back its claim.

A. its many irregularities had been the long-term
B. its many irregularities has been the long-term
C. its many irregularities is the long-term
D. their many irregularities is the long-term
E. their many irregularities had been the long-term

EncounterGMAT · Accepted Answer

Denying that one of its many irregularities had been the long-term mismanaging of company funds, the AD & M company produced clear evidence to back its claim.

A. its many irregularities had been the long-term
B. its many irregularities has been the long-term----- Correct verb tense for the past action.
C. its many irregularities is the long-term
D. their many irregularities is the long-term
E. their many irregularities had been the long-term

“ Had been ” means something began in the past, lasted for some time, then ended. This is entirely in the past. This verb tense is known as past perfect. Example: He had been in prison from 2000 to 2005. Both “ has been ” AND “ have been ” mean something began in the past and has lasted into the present time. Example: He has been in prison since 2010. A. its many irregularities had been the long-term -> 'had been' usage is correct her. B. its many irregularities has been the long-term -> 'has been' usage is wrong because the irregularities.....is not continuing till date. C. its many irregularities is the long-term -> they are talking about denying something that happen in past. Tense error. D. their many irregularities is the long-term E. their many irregularities had been the long-term

daagh · Answer

Obviously A for using the past perfect 'had been' for sequentially legitimizing the earlier mismanagement from the later production of evidence and for treating the company in the singular as 'its', distinctly from the plural 'their' as done in E.

eakabuah · Answer

Answer choices D and E are incorrect because the plural pronoun “their” is used as antecedent for the singular noun “the AD & M company”. In fact part of the non underlined portion used the singular pronoun “it’s” to refer to “the AD&M company”, further stressing the singularity of the Subject of the sentence.

From the meaning of the sentence, the irregularities occurred before AD&M company produced the evidence to deny the claim that the irregularities were due to mismanagement of company funds. So the verb tense has to be in the past.

The use of “has been” is incorrect because it expresses the idea as though the effects of the irregularities are still relevant today, and this is not the case. The verb tense is in the past so, an earlier action such as irregularities has to be expressed in the past as well, and not in the present perfect tense.

C is also incorrect since it uses the simple present tense “i.e. is” to express an action which took place in the past.

A is correct because the verb “had been” correctly express the idea that the irregularities occurred in the past. The use of past perfect tense clearly shows that the action took place earlier before the evidence was produced to to deny the irregularities.

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shridhar786 · Answer

A.  its many irregularities had been the long-term 
---yes this answer choice presents the correct sequencing of the verb--past perfect tense indicates that the irregularities occurred 
before the evidence is produced --- (correct)
 
B. its many irregularities  has  been the long-term
Present perfect tense suggests that the irregularities occurred after the company produced evidence.
This verb sequencing is incorrect. -- the past perfect tense is required here.  (incorrect)

C. its many irregularities  is  the long-term
The simple present tense “is” suggests that the irregularities occurred after the company produced evidence
This verb sequencing is wrong  (incorrect)

D.  their  many irregularities is the long-term
their- (plural)--does not agree in number with the singular-the AD & M company  (incorrect)

E.  their  many irregularities had been the long-term
same as (D)  (incorrect)

unraveled · Answer

Sequence of events in the sentence is as follows:
Mismanagement of funds ------ Producing evidence / Denying of the irregularities.

Since AD & M company is singular subject using ‘plural pronoun’ to address it is wrong. Thus, D and E are out straight away.

By meaning, AD & M company produced some evidence to deny that any mismanagement was there in its books. Clearly, the irregularities in funds mismanagement was believed till date which company denied hence present perfect tense is required here and second event ‘production of evidence’ is rightly presented using simple past tense.

A. its many irregularities had been the long-term – WRONG. Past Perfect tense is used for still perceived irregularities which AD & M company denied.
B. its many irregularities has been the long-term – CORRECT. Present Perfect tense is used properly to show that irregularities still perceived which AD & M company denied.
C. its many irregularities is the long-term – WRONG. Incorrect usage of simple present tense. 
D. their many irregularities is the long-term – WRONG. S - V error.
E. their many irregularities had been the long-term - WRONG. Similar to option D. S - V error.

Answer (B).

Prasannathawait · Answer

Denying that one of its many irregularities had been the long-term mismanaging of company funds, the AD & M company produced clear evidence to back its claim.

A. its many irregularities  had been  the long-term
 B. its many irregularities has been the long-term----- Correct verb tense for the past action. 
C. its many irregularities  is the  long-term
D.  their  many irregularities  is  the long-term
E.  their  many irregularities  had  been the long-term

Bunuel · Answer

Official Explanation

Correct Answer: A

The best answer is A. The singular pronoun its agrees in number with the singular noun referent AD & M; the past perfect verb form had been is used appropriately to refer to an action completed prior to the action of the simple past tense produced.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Denying that one of its many irregularities had been the long-term mis

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Denying that one of its many irregularities had been the long-term mis

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