<p>Find the underlined error.</p>
<p>Determined to make a name for herself as a writer of short stories, Helen never submits anything to an editor until revising it several times. </p>
<p>E. No error.</p>
<p>I've considered the possibility of formally disputing this question to the SAT. Before I make a fool of myself, I want a technical answer about why "D" (revising) is erroneous. To begin, I do agree "until she revises" sounds better. But unlike the ACT, this is about grammar technicality. </p>
<p>Arguments I have heard:
Ambiguity - how is this ambiguous? The editor is not relevant until after submission.
"ing" ending cannot be used - why? "I never run after stretching."</p>
<p>It’s simply the wrong tense. It should read “until she has revised it.”</p>
<p>“ing” endings can be used in past tense regardless?</p>
<p>“I was brushing my teeth this morning.”</p>
<p>Does it have to do with the particular use of “until”? I assumed it could be used equally with “before,after,”… it sounds awkward but is it technically correct?
After running for president, she ate pies.
Before running for president, she ate pies.
Until running for president, she ate pies. </p>
<p>To mirror this sentence.</p>
<p>She had no idea what to do until completing the test. </p>
<p>Obviously, the meaning has changed… but is it wrong to word things that way?</p>
<p>It’s analogous to this sentence: “The president never eats pies until he has given his speech.”</p>
<p>One shouldn’t say, “The president never eats pies until giving his speech.” The pie eating occurs after the speech.</p>
<p>“The president never eats pies before giving speeches”</p>
<ul>
<li>That is grammatically incorrect as well? I assumed until,before,after could be used interchangeably, and that anything else was a matter of awkwardness, but not of technical grammar.</li>
</ul>
<p>The words are not interchangeable.</p>
<p>Hmm.</p>
<p>I can’t find any other situations where using different words of the same exact form would cause grammar technicalities. I appreciate the input… going to do some more research.</p>
<p>Curious question…
Maybe being revising isn’t in same tense at submits?</p>
<p>anyone know?</p>
<p>Curious question…
Maybe being revising isn’t in same tense at submits?</p>
<p>anyone know?
Well ing ending can be used in context to both past and present.</p>
<p>I think until is an idiom, and must be followed by she revises
before must be followed by a gerund</p>
<p>no idea though, I am not a grammar guy</p>
<p>I’m not sure exactly what you guys are asking. However, azzajack is incorrect in saying that “before” must be followed by a gerund. (Before he ran, …)</p>
<p>I think the explanation hinges on the use of “until.” In common speech/writing, when you say “Never X until Y,” you generally mean that X might happen once Y occurs. (This is not strictly logical, of course). In this case, the use of “revising” with “until” would leave open the possibility that Helen submits an essays while she is in the midst of revising it. This is also why “until she has revised it” is better than “until she revises it.”</p>
<p>I don’t think this is a case of misuse of “revising” as a gerund. I’d read “revising” in the original sentence as being in the present progressive (with the “is” left implicit).</p>
<p>Let me try.
idiom: Never X until Y.
Now remember parallelism.
X and Y should be parallel,
You never learn until you try.</p>
<p>Hope this helps</p>
<p>So the answer should be “she never submits anything until she revises it”</p>
<p>parent62, I think your example is not precisely analogous, because one is (presumably) learning while one is trying. On the other hand, Helen is not submitting while she is revising. I think it should be “she never submits anything until she has revised it.”
(Parent here too, just not in the username).</p>
<p>I agree with QuantMech.</p>
<p>I thought since this topic is about general statement … that happens normally… usually a habit … .not a particular incident the order matters so much … and the order is implied … .</p>
<p>For example …lie I never go to sleep until I read a book…</p>
<p>Anyway I am happy to be corrected… but not 100% convinced. But there should be no question about why “revising it” is wrong.</p>
<p>Idiom: Never Trouble Trouble until Trouble Troubles you (Not Trouble has troubled you(</p>