<p>1.) In the past, the small nation had been committed to self-managed socialism, a system under which the workers, rather than the state, own most enterprises. </p>
<p>Answer: No Error My Question: BB explanation - The past perfect tense of the verb "had been committed" correctly indicates a time prior to another specific time in the past.</p>
<p>In this sentence, what is the past time that comes after the past perfect tense? The only other verb I see is "own," which is present, not past tense.</p>
<p>The point in time that the nation was no longer committed to self-managed socialism is implicit. The phrase “in the past” suggests that, and hence the use of past perfect.</p>
<p>Try this example:</p>
<p>When I lived in France, I had been an avid biker.</p>
<p>It’s implicit that I no longer live there, and hence the past perfect.</p>
<p>Try this example:</p>
<p>Since January the nation has been committed to self-managed socialism.</p>
<p>It’s implicit that the nation is still committed to self-managed socialism, and hence the present perfect. The word “since” suggests that.</p>
<p>Or try </p>
<p>Since I moved to France I have been an avid biker.</p>
<p>1.) In the past, the small nation had been committed to self-managed socialism, a system under which the workers, rather than the state, own most enterprises. </p>
<p>The use of the past perfect in the main clause suggests that the committing is done and over (completed = perfected). We understand that the country is no longer committed to socialism.</p>