just a word of warning for those of u using Kaplan or Princeton material for SC. there is one mistake in the Subject-Verb Agreement rule.
I just started with Kaplan800 and the first example in SC is this:
" As of this morning, none of my friends have been able to solve the puzzle contained in last week's newspaper. (A) none of my friends have been able to solve (B) none of my friends was able to solve (C) not one of my friends has yet been able to solve (D) none of my friends has been able to solve (E) nobody among my friends have solved " the correct answer according to the book is 'D' because "none is singular (like every or everyone)"
the above is incorrect and the correct answer should be 'A', because of the below rule mentioned in Manhattan SC and in atleast 10 grammar resources that i have check on the net, and also in the material from IMS classes.
" THE SANAM PRONOUNS: Some, Any, None, All, Most
How can u tell if these pronouns are singular or plural? Look at the 'of' construction which usually follows the pronoun. You may recall that you are generally supposed to ignore 'of' constructions (as they are misleading middlemen). The SANAM pronouns are the exceptions to this rule: you should look at the object of the 'of' construction to determine the number of the subject. "
here are a few examples of the above:
Most of the explorers have passed through this wilderness. Most of the exploration has been a waste of time.
Some of the money was stolen from my wallet. Some of the documents were stolen from the bank.
i really am disappointed that both Kaplan and Princeton have made this same mistake. just thought i should let everyone know...
also since i was just planning to start with Kaplan800 m a little skeptical abt the book now... will have to double check all data and explanations.
i hope i haven't made any mistakes in understanding the above rule... requesting the SC gurus on the forum to kindly check n comment. thanks!!
Thanks !
Also, in case of 'one'
One of my friends who belongs/belong to this class is from US
One of my friends is/are from US
Rule is :
One ................+ that/who + Plural verb ...
One..................+ Singular verb (that is if no relative pronoun here)
the writer intends to speak abt those enzymes that helps in digestion and hence it is an essential modifier.
How do you know the intention of the writer? I am not being rhetorical, but it really is a fact that it is almost impossible to figure out whether the writer intends to use this in the context of essential or non-essential modifier.
If this is not immediately clear, lets look at these examples:
The last bike in the queue that is blue, is mine. The last bike in the queue, which is blue, is mine.
Both of these sentences are correct, but have completely different meaning. Nevertheless, there is no way for me (as a GMAT test taker) to find out what the intention of the author is. So, what do you do? Well, you just go with what the author mentions in the original sentence. In other words, if the author uses that in the original sentence, you should not choose an option that uses which and vice versa.
On that note, I have till date, not seen any Official question that tests you on this aspect of which and that (essential/non-essential). So, this really is a moot point.
The only thing you should be acutely sensitive about, when solving these questions is the simple golden rule:
'which' always modifies the nearest eligible noun.
just a word of warning for those of u using Kaplan or Princeton material for SC. there is one mistake in the Subject-Verb Agreement rule.
I just started with Kaplan800 and the first example in SC is this:
" As of this morning, none of my friends have been able to solve the puzzle contained in last week's newspaper. (A) none of my friends have been able to solve (B) none of my friends was able to solve (C) not one of my friends has yet been able to solve (D) none of my friends has been able to solve (E) nobody among my friends have solved " the correct answer according to the book is 'D' because "none is singular (like every or everyone)"
the above is incorrect and the correct answer should be 'A', because of the below rule mentioned in Manhattan SC and in atleast 10 grammar resources that i have check on the net, and also in the material from IMS classes.
" THE SANAM PRONOUNS: Some, Any, None, All, Most
How can u tell if these pronouns are singular or plural? Look at the 'of' construction which usually follows the pronoun. You may recall that you are generally supposed to ignore 'of' constructions (as they are misleading middlemen). The SANAM pronouns are the exceptions to this rule: you should look at the object of the 'of' construction to determine the number of the subject. "
here are a few examples of the above:
Most of the explorers have passed through this wilderness. Most of the exploration has been a waste of time.
Some of the money was stolen from my wallet. Some of the documents were stolen from the bank.
i really am disappointed that both Kaplan and Princeton have made this same mistake. just thought i should let everyone know...
also since i was just planning to start with Kaplan800 m a little skeptical abt the book now... will have to double check all data and explanations.
i hope i haven't made any mistakes in understanding the above rule... requesting the SC gurus on the forum to kindly check n comment. thanks!!
Yes.. I think its true..In all other books except Kaplan,I have seen 'None' may take both singular as well as plural verbs depending on the noun which follows it. Eg: None of the students have done their homework.(Here it takes a plural verb bcoz the noun is plural) But None of the counterfeit money has been recovered..(Here it takes a singular noun)
Princess Diana's dresses set the standard for all fashion houses in Europe. Such a thing didn't happen before or since.
didn't happen before or
had neither happened before or
didn't happen before and hasn't happened
hasn't happened either before or
hadn't happened before and hasn't happened
It's really confusing. So please give a full explanation for your answer.
Thanks
The nineteenth-century chemist Humpry Davy presented the results of his early experiments in his "Essay on Heat and Light," a critique of all chemistry since Robert Boyle as well as a vision of a new chemistry that Davy hoped to found. A) a critique of all chemistry since Robert Boyle as well as a vision of a new chemistry that Davy hoped to found. B) a critique of all chemistry following Robert Boyle and also his envisioning of a C) a critique of all chemistry after Robert Boyle and envisioning as well D) critiquing all chemistry from Robert Boyle forward and also a vision of E) critiquing all the chemistry done since Robert Boyle as well as his own envisioning of
Princess Diana's dresses set the standard for all fashion houses in Europe. Such a thing didn't happen before or since.
didn't happen before or
had neither happened before or
didn't happen before and hasn't happened
hasn't happened either before or
hadn't happened before and hasn't happened
It's really confusing. So please give a full explanation for your answer.
Thanks
My take is E. We're talking about an event that has only happened once. So semantically, all options with 'or' (a/b/e) are ruled out. Next, we're talking about an event in the past (Diana's dress) and qualifying it by saying that such a thing hadn't happened before. So past perfect (hadn't happened) is the tense to use. Hence, E 😃
My take is E. We're talking about an event that has only happened once. So semantically, all options with 'or' (a/b/e) are ruled out. Next, we're talking about an event in the past (Diana's dress) and qualifying it by saying that such a thing hadn't happened before. So past perfect (hadn't happened) is the tense to use. Hence, E :)
Which one of the following is correct and how did you arrive at the conclusion? Please help me identify the subject and the verb.
1. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms was impressive. 2. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms is impressive.
1. Planting all these seeds is more involved than I thought. 2. Planting all these seeds are more involved than I thought.
Which one of the following is correct and how did you arrive at the conclusion? Please help me identify the subject and the verb.
1. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms was impressive. 2. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms is impressive.
My Take: The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms is impressive. But I'm not sure why it can't be "was" if the person is talking about a past experience. Can someone elucidate?
1. Planting all these seeds is more involved than I thought. 2. Planting all these seeds are more involved than I thought.
My take:
"Planting all these seeds is more involved than I thought." Reason : Planting is the subject which is a singular activity.
Which one of the following is correct and how did you arrive at the conclusion? Please help me identify the subject and the verb.
1. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms was impressive. 2. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms is impressive.
my take is 1. was bcoz i think it as impressive, it might have been past, which we can say as: The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms was impressive suject(placement)
1. Planting all these seeds is more involved than I thought. 2. Planting all these seeds are more involved than I thought.
my take is 1. is the subject (planting) is singular here
I go with B. here the vocal tract of N is compared to a vocal tract of an ap. right comparison. Moreover, N ( Plural is required, because,..sentence follows with were n they.
Which one of the following is correct and how did you arrive at the conclusion? Please help me identify the subject and the verb.
1. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms was impressive. 2. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms is impressive.
1. Planting all these seeds is more involved than I thought. 2. Planting all these seeds are more involved than I thought.
I think in the first set both the sentences arre correct....both is/was seem okay in the usage...singular.
In the 2nd ques Planting is the key subject, which is singular, and therefore requires singular verb. So "IS" is required. Planting is actually a gerund i.e verb form acting as noun.
Which one of the following is correct and how did you arrive at the conclusion? Please help me identify the subject and the verb.
1. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms was impressive. 2. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms is impressive.
1. Planting all these seeds is more involved than I thought. 2. Planting all these seeds are more involved than I thought.
The following options are correct for sure: 1. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms was impressive. 1. Planting all these seeds is more involved than I thought.
I am not sure if this is correct/wrong: 2. The placement of the unusual artwork in the mansion's various rooms is impressive.
