idiom usage

ildude02 · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:54 am Post subject: idiom usage

In his research, Dr Frosh, medical director of the Payne Whitney Clinic, distinguishes mood swings, which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic depressive psychosis

1. the same as above
2. mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic depressive psychosis
3.between mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic depressive psychosis.
4. between mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic depressive psychosis
5. genuine manic depressive psychosis and mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease.

chidcguy · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:24 am Post subject:

Some one correct me if I am wrong.

distinguish X from Y, for X and Y that are similar

distinguish original painting from a fake painting. But both of them are paintings

Distinguish between X and Y, for X & Y that are different.

distinguish between cats and dogs (We can distinguish between cats and dogs even though both of them are similar in that they are animals)

Here X & Y are mood swings and manic depression.

To me, between X & Y is the correct usage here and hence C

Even if we think mood swings and maniac depression are similar, what is their in A referring to? mood swings are already referred to by which.

What is OA?

Vignesh.4384 · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:00 pm Post subject:

HI ChidGuy,

I think which in option A modifies the mood swings(which seems 2 be ok).
In this case the doctor distinguishes X(moods swings) from Y(psychosis) makes more sense than distinguishes between X(moods swings) and Y(psychosis).

Please correct me if i am wrong

IMO A.

Arabian Baba · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject:

IMO A too....

First it sounds good and the same logic.

But I remember the GMAT Experts of BEAT THE GMAT ONCE SAID THAT THE CHANCES OF THIS KIND OF QUESTION COMING IN THE ACTUAL GMAT ARE LESS AS BOTH EXPRESSIONS DISTINGUISH A FROM B AND DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A AND B ARE IDIOMATIC.

Aldiablo · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:53 pm Post subject:

IMO A:

A and C are close but if I have to choose,
then if it takes research to analyze the difference, then they are more likely to be considered alike before (Although not very convincing). And thus "distinguish X from Y" seems better here instead of "distinguish between X and Y".

ildude02 · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

The answer for this question is C. I know it's kinda close call between A and C, but as "chidcguy' pointed out, "their" seems little odd in that sentence.

One thing I wanted to get out of this post was, when you should use the idiom "distinguish x from y" vs "distingusih between x and y". Can we go with chidcguy's analysis that distinguish from" is used when comparing similar items? Can anyone else weigh on this?

codesnooker · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:02 am Post subject:

sibbineni · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:12 am Post subject:

I agree with childcguy.

Imo C