<p>There's a writing question in the 2009-2010 sat practice test that I can't understand the answer to:</p>
<p>Only by tapping their last reserves of energy were the team members able to salvage what <was beginning="" to=""> look like a lost cause. </was></p>
<p>The answer is NO ERROR, but I chose the answer "was beginning to"
Shouldn't it be "had begun" ???</p>
<p>Because the team solved the problem, isn't it incorrect to use the present tense "was beginning." Since the problem was averted, isn't it correct to use the past perfect "had begun" ???</p>
<p>BTW this is my first post!</p>
<p>Maybe “had begun” is technically better but “was beginning to” is not incorrect. It is not a present tense. “was” is past tense. “are/is beginning” would be the present tenses</p>
<p>That sentence sounds fine with me…</p>
<p>i agree with braniac, it appeases the ears which always has a 50/50 percent chance of getting the right answer, but grammtically, which has a 100% success rate, it is also correct.</p>
<p>thanks guys. i guess it confused me a bit.</p>
<p>Well im a grammar idiot(totally) so i am not sure of this explanation but isnt had begun past participle and you need to have another verb which is in past form to use it as it refers to a verb which happened before another verb in the past… hope any grammar tutor sees this post … :D:D:D</p>
<p>Idk but maybe bc beginning is parallel to “tapping”?</p>
<p>Grammar people needed please help…</p>
<p>Again. There is nothing wrong with “was beginning to.” It’s fine. Just say the sentence out loud. It makes perfect sense and sounds fine.</p>
<p>My thoughts exactly. There is no other past tense verb. Thus, it’s illogical to use the past perfect “had begun” here. </p>
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<p>Any other one supporting my idea lol first time i get supported in grammar… :D</p>
<p>iceqube, when i intepreted it I saw the word “were” as the first past tense verb in the sentence. </p>
<p>anyway, I got the College Board Explanation to the solution:</p>
<p>There is no error at (D). The pronoun “what” appropriately refers to “a lost cause.” The past progressive verb form “was beginning” is used appropriately to describe a past action that took place over a period of time (the time it took to tap the “last reserves of energy”).</p>