Sentence Correction

A higher interest rate is only one of the factors, albeit an important one, that keeps the
housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade.
"¢ keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
"¢ keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did

[spoiler]Isn't the subject of sentence is "higher interest rate" ??? [/spoiler]

Will post answer later...

IMO B

Only one of the factors that KEEP the housing market from spiralling out of control AS it did

Also interest rate is one of the factors, there are several other factors that have this effect. So for several of these factors, we should use a PLURAL verb "KEEP"
We use LIKE to compare Nouns and /or noun clauses and As to compare actions.

IMO D

IMO B

IMO: C.
The subject of sentence is "higher interest rate" with a singular verb KEEPS and a singular Pronout IT and using AS to compare two actions.

OA is B

I also went with C option initially and for the same reason(higher interest rate as subject). However, per the explanation subject for the above sentence is factors, which is plural. Hence the plural verb "Keep".


Although srcc25anu has given nice explanation, I am still not satisfied.

Experts please pitch in!

is it C?

subject: higher interest rate (singular)
verb: keeps
comparision uses 'as' ( to compare actions)

higher interest rate is only one of the factors.
'of the factors' is prepositional phrase modifier. So it cannot be the subject.
also IT is parallel with singular subject.

please reply....

now, i think it should be B
.......factors that keep........

"Higher interest rate" is the subject for "one of the factors"
"factors" --> [more than 1 factor] that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control.

"that" indicates a noun modifier, so it refers to the noun right before it - "factors"

killerdrummer wrote:A higher interest rate is only one of the factors, albeit an important one, that keeps the
housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade.
"¢ keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
"¢ keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did

[spoiler]Isn't the subject of sentence is "higher interest rate" ??? [/spoiler]

Will post answer later...

P.S.
Also remember this :

if you have just ONE OF THE + PLURAL NOUN + WHO/THAT + ______, and it's NOT "the only one", THEN "____" MUST be a PLURAL VERB.

Eg: that's one of the birds that fly over my house at night.

THE ONLY ONE OF THE + PLURAL NOUN + WHO/THAT + ______ requires a SINGULAR verb for the "_____".

Eg: Ayushi is the only one of the girls who has ever been to India.

Ankur87 wrote:P.S.
Also remember this :

if you have just ONE OF THE + PLURAL NOUN + WHO/THAT + ______, and it's NOT "the only one", THEN "____" MUST be a PLURAL VERB.

Eg: that's one of the birds that fly over my house at night.

THE ONLY ONE OF THE + PLURAL NOUN + WHO/THAT + ______ requires a SINGULAR verb for the "_____".

Eg: Ayushi is the only one of the girls who has ever been to India.

Like SANAM pronouns (some, any, none, all, most), ONE can take both plural and singular verbs. It depends on the context.

Experts please comment.
What is the difference between ONE and ONLY ONE?

finally here it comes:


-- IMPORTANT --

Myth of "One of.."


1. One of the X's that/who <plural>
2. One of the X's <singular>
3. Only one of the X's <singular>
4. Only one of the X's that/who <plural>
5. The only one of the X's that/who <singular>

copied from
https://www.beatthegmat.com/papgust-s-gm ... 50-45.html

Thanks Guys for the healthy discussion!


Guess what .. i was googling this on net and found the same example on MGMAT website.


Check this below link.. Stacie has very clearly explained same scenario!!

https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/sin ... t1400.html

A higher interest rate is only one of the factors, albeit an important one, that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade.

"¢ keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
"¢ keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did

I received a PM asking me to comment.

In A and E, like it DID incorrectly uses like to compare actions.
Like means similar to; it serves to compare NOUNS.
To compare ACTIONS, we use as.
Thus, LIKE + SUBJECT + VERB is ALWAYS WRONG.
Eliminate A and E.

D implies that the housing market is LIKE earlier in the decade -- an illogical comparison.
Eliminate D.

In C, keeps (singular) does not agree with factors (plural).
What is the rate ONLY ONE OF?
THE FACTORS THAT KEEP the housing market from spiraling out of control.
Eliminate C.

The correct answer is B.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

A higher interest rate is only one of the factors, albeit an important one, that keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did earlier in the decade.

"¢ keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
"¢ keeps the housing market from spiraling out of control, as it did
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like
"¢ keep the housing market from spiraling out of control, like it did

I received a PM asking me to comment.

In A and E, like it DID incorrectly uses like to compare actions.
Like means similar to; it serves to compare NOUNS.
To compare ACTIONS, we use as.
Thus, LIKE + SUBJECT + VERB is ALWAYS WRONG.
Eliminate A and E.

D implies that the housing market is LIKE earlier in the decade -- an illogical comparison.
Eliminate D.

In C, keeps (singular) does not agree with factors (plural).
What is the rate ONLY ONE OF?
THE FACTORS THAT KEEP the housing market from spiraling out of control.
Eliminate C.

The correct answer is B.

THAT refers to noun that comes before it.

Is this correct?

How the verb changes in following sentence:
Rate is THE ONLY ONE of the FACTORS that KEEPS.

I think that because of the definite article THE, verb should be singular.

Please comment.