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In the engineering sector

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apex231 Really wants to Beat The GMAT! Default Avatar
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Post Sun Oct 02, 2011 3:56 pm
Can "which" not refer to the entire clause? There are questions in which "which" doesn't refer to the immediately preceding noun.

Also, in option C, doesn't "a fact that makes it difficult" is awkward as how can a fact make things difficult for graduates?

C) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, a fact that makes it difficult for us

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Post Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:01 pm
"which" does not HAVE to modify the noun that immediately precedes it. "which" can also modify a noun + a prep phrase that immediately precedes it.

The reason the use of "which" is still incorrect in this question is that, even though "which" may be modifying a prep-phrase, it still does not make sense in the sentence that it is used in.

In the engineeriing sector at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, jobs for those without experience(replacing "which") makes it difficult for we recent graduates to get started on our careers.

The "jobs for those without experience" is not making it difficult for new grads to get started on their careers. It'ts the lack of the jobs currently, or the fact that there are no jobs currently, as the question suggests.

http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/04/14/thursdays-with-ron-the-which-modifier

Brian@VeritasPrep wrote:
Pretty slick question, and let me echo kaulnikhil's explanation in a lot of ways.

You know that you're responsible for modifiers, and modifiers that begin with the word "which" are pretty clear - "which" must modify the word that comes directly next to it. So A, B, and D are out.

This is a pretty important strategic point - I don't know that it's altogether clear whether you couldn't say "In the engineering sector at the moment there are no jobs..." instead of "In the engineering sector there are no jobs at the moment..." - even though that's the first section of the underline, if you don't know that it's a decision that you're wholly capable of making, look to see if there's a more definite decision point. Here, "which" eliminates A and B (thereby making that decision for you), and narrows you down to two choices.

One other point on C vs. E - the choice between "us" vs. "we" is one of object vs. subject. Often times on those (like whom vs. who) the word that they might select is tougher to distinguish, so try this - replace "we" (or "who") with "he" (a pronoun only used as a subject) and "us" (or "whom") with "him" (an object pronoun) and try it out.

It is difficult for he to find a job..

vs.

It is difficult for him to find a job...

By using your own noun in subject/object determinations it can be a lot clearer which is necessary. Here, you need to use "him" (the object pronoun), so you'd have to use "us" as an object, and C is the only correct answer.

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Post Mon Oct 24, 2011 11:33 pm
In the engineering sector at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for we recent graduates to get started on our careers.

A) at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for we
B) at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for us
C) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, a fact that makes it difficult for us
D) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, which makes it difficult for us
E) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, a fact which makes it difficult for we

'We' is the subject pronoun whereas 'Us' is the object pronoun. options A and E cannot be used because of this fact. One way of using 'we' is "We find it difficult to start our careers". Here we becomes the subject (who finds it difficult).
WE are left with B, C and D. (Only options B, C and D are left for US)

B and C are simply incorrect because 'which' modifies 'experience'. This means that experience is the reason for our difficulty. Option C clearly means that 'no jobs currently' is the reason for our difficulty. Hence c is correct.

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Post Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:24 am
Brian, mentions that which always refers to the noun preceding comma but this is not always true. Some expert please clarify.

Thanks
Mankey

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Post Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:10 pm
mankey wrote:
Brian, mentions that which always refers to the noun preceding comma but this is not always true. Some expert please clarify.

Thanks
Mankey
These links might help you --

http://www.beatthegmat.com/when-to-use-which-and-when-not-to-use-whic-t63818.html#285629

http://www.beatthegmat.com/when-to-use-which-and-when-not-to-use-whic-t63818.html#285700

http://www.beatthegmat.com/which-vs-that-t20509.html

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Post Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:28 am
I chose D (came down to C and D in my case) but don't understand the explanations.

Which is modifying experience. So what? What is it supposed to modify then?

The lack of experience is what drives the second clause.

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Post Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:40 am
i was also confused between C and E and chose the wrong answer option E but still have a little doubt regarding the question

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Post Tue Nov 15, 2011 2:18 pm
pawanagarwal wrote:
In the engineering sector at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for we recent graduates to get started on our careers.

A) at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for we
B) at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for us
C) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, a fact that makes it difficult for us
D) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, which makes it difficult for us
E) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, a fact which makes it difficult for we

Eliminate sentences containing 'for we', and 'which' because "experience" cannot "make it bla bla"

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Post Sun Apr 01, 2012 10:24 am
(C) as which is for non-essential clauses

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Post Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:10 am
Brian@VeritasPrep wrote:
Pretty slick question, and let me echo kaulnikhil's explanation in a lot of ways.

You know that you're responsible for modifiers, and modifiers that begin with the word "which" are pretty clear - "which" must modify the word that comes directly next to it. So A, B, and D are out.

This is a pretty important strategic point - I don't know that it's altogether clear whether you couldn't say "In the engineering sector at the moment there are no jobs..." instead of "In the engineering sector there are no jobs at the moment..." - even though that's the first section of the underline, if you don't know that it's a decision that you're wholly capable of making, look to see if there's a more definite decision point. Here, "which" eliminates A and B (thereby making that decision for you), and narrows you down to two choices.

One other point on C vs. E - the choice between "us" vs. "we" is one of object vs. subject. Often times on those (like whom vs. who) the word that they might select is tougher to distinguish, so try this - replace "we" (or "who") with "he" (a pronoun only used as a subject) and "us" (or "whom") with "him" (an object pronoun) and try it out.

It is difficult for he to find a job..

vs.

It is difficult for him to find a job...

By using your own noun in subject/object determinations it can be a lot clearer which is necessary. Here, you need to use "him" (the object pronoun), so you'd have to use "us" as an object, and C is the only correct answer.
Hi,

Did you mean to say that 'which' modifies a word on its immediate left position?

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Post Wed Aug 22, 2012 1:41 am
pawanagarwal wrote:
In the engineering sector at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for we recent graduates to get started on our careers.

A) at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for we
B) at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for us
C) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, a fact that makes it difficult for us
D) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, which makes it difficult for us
E) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, a fact which makes it difficult for we

OA is C. But if someone can explain why, that will be great
'Which' is wrong coz it refers to 'experience' and not the whole phrase. So, A B D out !
'We' is wrong for obvious reasons ! E out !

Answer is C

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Post Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:23 am
pawanagarwal wrote:
In the engineering sector at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for we recent graduates to get started on our careers.

A) at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for we -- Us better than we
B) at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for us
C) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, a fact that makes it difficult for us
D) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, which makes it difficult for us
E) there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, a fact which makes it difficult for we

Us better than we Eliminate A and E
Fact better than which .. as it is fact .. Eliminate B and D

So C!!
OA is C. But if someone can explain why, that will be great

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Post Tue Sep 18, 2012 7:27 am
There are a few errors that can be spotted when reading the sentence. First off, "at the moment" seems misplaced. It should be at the beginning of the sentence following a comma, or not there at all. Since the beginning of the sentence is not underlined, it should be eliminated. A and B are out.

Secondly, whenever you have a comma followed by "which", whatever comes after "which" needs to be describing what is in front of that comma. In this case, it is experience, and the sentence is illogically describing experience making it difficult for recent graduates to get started on their careers. D is out, leaving C and E.

The last problem with the sentence is "we recent graduates" which should set off a few alarms to your ear. If you were to end the sentence at "we", it would most cerntaily be wrong. It should be "us recent graduates". Elimiate E.

Answer is C.

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Post Sun May 12, 2013 9:36 am
OA is C
which should be preceded by what it is referring to.
Here it is referring to the inexperience, therefore, rule out A,B and D
Now for E which refers to non-essential therefore it should also be preceded by a ','
Therefore rule out E

OA is C

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