Although various eighteenth- and nineteenth-century American poets had professed an interest in Native American poetry and had pretended to imitate Native American forms in their own works, until almost 1900, scholars and critics did not begin seriously to study traditional Native American poetry in native languages.
(A) until almost 1900, scholars and critics did not begin seriously to study
(B) until almost 1900 scholars and critics had not begun seriously studying
(C) not until almost 1900 were scholars and critics to begin seriously to study
(D) it was not almost until 1900 when scholars and critics began to seriously study
(E) it was not until almost 1900 that scholars and critics seriously began studying
I was able to arrive at the correct answer OA -E using tenses etc. However, I am not clear about "until almost" vs "almost until".
It will be great if you could elaborate with a few examples. I researched on the Internet and couldn't find substantial. There were a bunch of useless "IMO"s
Thanks
until almost vs almost until (require expert help)
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 405
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:44 am
- Thanked: 3 times
- Followed by:1 members
-
- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2009 1:43 am
Grammatically, 'almost' is an adverb. So, it must modify 'until' which is an adjective modifying '1900'.
- amit2k9
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 461
- Joined: Tue May 10, 2011 9:09 am
- Location: pune
- Thanked: 36 times
- Followed by:3 members
voodoo_child wrote:Although various eighteenth- and nineteenth-century American poets had professed an interest in Native American poetry and had pretended to imitate Native American forms in their own works, until almost 1900, scholars and critics did not begin seriously to study traditional Native American poetry in native languages.
(A) until almost 1900, scholars and critics did not begin seriously to study -- change in tense 'did not begin' POE.
(B) until almost 1900 scholars and critics had not begun seriously studying --had not usage improper.POE.
(C) not until almost 1900 were scholars and critics to begin seriously to study --to begin - POE
(D) it was not almost until 1900 when scholars and critics began to seriously study -- when isn't correct usage of the essential clause.
(E) it was not until almost 1900 that scholars and critics seriously began studying --
seriously - adverb correctly used before began.
that usage is proper for essential clause.
removing non-essential modifier the comma portion in the statement destroys the meaning,hence it usage as place holder is a must.
thus E it is.
I was able to arrive at the correct answer OA -E using tenses etc. However, I am not clear about "until almost" vs "almost until".
It will be great if you could elaborate with a few examples. I researched on the Internet and couldn't find substantial. There were a bunch of useless "IMO"s
Thanks
For Understanding Sustainability,Green Businesses and Social Entrepreneurship visit -https://aamthoughts.blocked/
(Featured Best Green Site Worldwide-https://bloggers.com/green/popular/page2)
(Featured Best Green Site Worldwide-https://bloggers.com/green/popular/page2)
GMAT/MBA Expert
- e-GMAT
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 645
- Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:42 pm
- Location: US
- Thanked: 527 times
- Followed by:227 members
In choice D, it is not clear what "almost" modifies. Per the intended meaning "almost" should modify 1900 implying "around 1900 - e.g. it could be in 1899 or 1901"³. But by placing "almost" before "until", the choice no longer communicates the intended approximation of time period "around 1900"³.
You may check the detailed solution for this problem at https://e-gmat.com/blogs/?p=552
Payal
You may check the detailed solution for this problem at https://e-gmat.com/blogs/?p=552
Payal
Register for free live sessions
Sentence Correction: Get 4 free video lessons, 50 practice questions
Critical Reasoning workshop: Get 4 free video lessons, 40 practice questions
Reading Comprehension: Get 2 free video lessons and 2 free eBooks
Free Strategy Session: Key strategy to score 760
Success Stories
V27 to V42 | V28 to V48 | V25 to V38 | More Success Stories
Sentence Correction: Get 4 free video lessons, 50 practice questions
Critical Reasoning workshop: Get 4 free video lessons, 40 practice questions
Reading Comprehension: Get 2 free video lessons and 2 free eBooks
Free Strategy Session: Key strategy to score 760
Success Stories
V27 to V42 | V28 to V48 | V25 to V38 | More Success Stories
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 405
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:44 am
- Thanked: 3 times
- Followed by:1 members
Payal,
I have a question. "Almost" is an adverb. How can it modify noun "1900"?
Until is a preposition.....correct?
Can you please help?
Thanks
I have a question. "Almost" is an adverb. How can it modify noun "1900"?
Until is a preposition.....correct?
Can you please help?
Thanks
- SticklorForDetails
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2011 3:39 pm
- Location: New York, NY
- Thanked: 39 times
- Followed by:22 members
- GMAT Score:780
voodoo_child wrote:Although various eighteenth- and nineteenth-century American poets had professed an interest in Native American poetry and had pretended to imitate Native American forms in their own works, until almost 1900, scholars and critics did not begin seriously to study traditional Native American poetry in native languages.
(A) until almost 1900, scholars and critics did not begin seriously to study
(B) until almost 1900 scholars and critics had not begun seriously studying
(C) not until almost 1900 were scholars and critics to begin seriously to study
(D) it was not almost until 1900 when scholars and critics began to seriously study
(E) it was not until almost 1900 that scholars and critics seriously began studying
I was able to arrive at the correct answer OA -E using tenses etc. However, I am not clear about "until almost" vs "almost until".
It will be great if you could elaborate with a few examples. I researched on the Internet and couldn't find substantial. There were a bunch of useless "IMO"s
Thanks
"Almost" is an adjective here, modifying 1900. While "not almost until 1900" in (D) is completely strange and unidiomatic anyway, the best way to analyze any such answer choice that moves "almost" around is to think logically about when this sentence is trying to say it is. By "almost 1900" they mean, say, 1899. Any choice that doesn't make it clear that it's 1899 would be wrong.
Here are some examples of grammatically-right-but-logically-different uses of "almost" in a similar context:
"It was almost before midnight when you first called me." In this case, "almost" is an adverb, modifying the adverbial-prepositional-phrase "before midnight," and it means "actually after midnight, but ALMOST before it," so maybe 12:01am
"It was almost midnight when you first called me." In this case, "almost" is an adjective, modifying the noun "midnight," and it means "just before midnight," so maybe 11:59pm
Hope that helps!
- Jim@Grockit
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 641
- Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:07 pm
- Location: Madison, WI
- Thanked: 162 times
- Followed by:45 members
- GMAT Score:760
"Not" also modifies the word immediately following it (or what would be following it without ellipsis, in cases where the sentence ends in "not", as in No, it was not ), so it would also be strange (but not impossible) to have "not" preceding "almost" in a normal English sentence.
The exception is the negation of a previous phrase: It was almost ready. No, it was NOT almost ready.
The exception is the negation of a previous phrase: It was almost ready. No, it was NOT almost ready.
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 405
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:44 am
- Thanked: 3 times
- Followed by:1 members
Adam,SticklorForDetails wrote:voodoo_child wrote:Although various eighteenth- and nineteenth-century American poets had professed an interest in Native American poetry and had pretended to imitate Native American forms in their own works, until almost 1900, scholars and critics did not begin seriously to study traditional Native American poetry in native languages.
(A) until almost 1900, scholars and critics did not begin seriously to study
(B) until almost 1900 scholars and critics had not begun seriously studying
(C) not until almost 1900 were scholars and critics to begin seriously to study
(D) it was not almost until 1900 when scholars and critics began to seriously study
(E) it was not until almost 1900 that scholars and critics seriously began studying
I was able to arrive at the correct answer OA -E using tenses etc. However, I am not clear about "until almost" vs "almost until".
It will be great if you could elaborate with a few examples. I researched on the Internet and couldn't find substantial. There were a bunch of useless "IMO"s
Thanks
"Almost" is an adjective here, modifying 1900. While "not almost until 1900" in (D) is completely strange and unidiomatic anyway, the best way to analyze any such answer choice that moves "almost" around is to think logically about when this sentence is trying to say it is. By "almost 1900" they mean, say, 1899. Any choice that doesn't make it clear that it's 1899 would be wrong.
Here are some examples of grammatically-right-but-logically-different uses of "almost" in a similar context:
"It was almost before midnight when you first called me." In this case, "almost" is an adverb, modifying the adverbial-prepositional-phrase "before midnight," and it means "actually after midnight, but ALMOST before it," so maybe 12:01am
"It was almost midnight when you first called me." In this case, "almost" is an adjective, modifying the noun "midnight," and it means "just before midnight," so maybe 11:59pm
Hope that helps!
Wow! Your post is really awesome. My dictionary says "almost" can only be adverb. I will throw away my dictionary. I checked Websters and could grasp the concept.
I have a quick question though. I am not able understand why "almost before midnight" ~ 12.01. If I understand it correctly, "before midnight" ~ <12.00 am. Hence, almost X must be less than 12.00 am. Correct?
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 405
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:44 am
- Thanked: 3 times
- Followed by:1 members
Jim,Jim@Grockit wrote:"Not" also modifies the word immediately following it (or what would be following it without ellipsis, in cases where the sentence ends in "not", as in No, it was not ), so it would also be strange (but not impossible) to have "not" preceding "almost" in a normal English sentence.
The exception is the negation of a previous phrase: It was almost ready. No, it was NOT almost ready.
Thanks for your post. I believe that it would have been fine to say -
"It was not until Noon that I realized that I left my car keys at home"
Here, not is modifying the adverbial-prepositional-phrase "until Noon" Correct? So, if I understand it correctly, not+almost(when used as an adjective) is incorrect. not+almost(when used as an adverb) could be fine?
Please correct me if I am wrong...
Thanks
- SticklorForDetails
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2011 3:39 pm
- Location: New York, NY
- Thanked: 39 times
- Followed by:22 members
- GMAT Score:780
"Almost" implies "not." If say that "I have scored almost 800 on the GMAT," well, you can deduce that I have not, in fact, scored 800. So "almost before midnight" means NOT before midnight.voodoo_child wrote: I have a quick question though. I am not able understand why "almost before midnight" ~ 12.01. If I understand it correctly, "before midnight" ~ <12.00 am. Hence, almost X must be less than 12.00 am. Correct?
In response to your other question, I'm not sure exactly how to explain it grammatically, but "not until" is idiomatically correct, having the same meaning as "only after" -- telling us not only the time (until/after) but also the necessity.
-
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 1404
- Joined: Tue May 20, 2008 6:55 pm
- Thanked: 18 times
- Followed by:2 members
According to the explanation on the website, COMMA is the problem.e-GMAT wrote:In choice D, it is not clear what "almost" modifies. Per the intended meaning "almost" should modify 1900 implying "around 1900 - e.g. it could be in 1899 or 1901"³. But by placing "almost" before "until", the choice no longer communicates the intended approximation of time period "around 1900"³.
You may check the detailed solution for this problem at https://e-gmat.com/blogs/?p=552
Payal
OG questions now tests COMMA?. There is no questions in OG10 an OG11 which test COMMA.
Expert, please, give your ideas.
- Ozlemg
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 407
- Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:19 am
- Thanked: 25 times
- Followed by:7 members
it was not almost until 1900 when scholars and critics began to seriously study
infinite split is not correct in gmat. ıt has to be to study seriously
infinite split is not correct in gmat. ıt has to be to study seriously
The more you suffer before the test, the less you will do so in the test!
-
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 2330
- Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:14 am
- Thanked: 56 times
- Followed by:26 members
SticklorForDetails wrote:"Almost" implies "not." If say that "I have scored almost 800 on the GMAT," well, you can deduce that I have not, in fact, scored 800. So "almost before midnight" means NOT before midnight.voodoo_child wrote: I have a quick question though. I am not able understand why "almost before midnight" ~ 12.01. If I understand it correctly, "before midnight" ~ <12.00 am. Hence, almost X must be less than 12.00 am. Correct?
Hi Sticklor , As you said "almost " implies "not " .
"It was almost before midnight when you first called me." In this case, "almost" is an adverb, modifying the adverbial-prepositional-phrase "before midnight," and it means "actually after midnight, but ALMOST before it," so maybe 12:01am
so when we say
"It was almost before midnight when you first called me."
It means
"It was not before midnight when you first called me." , so it could be 12:00 am too .
It would be very helpful if you could help me out with this
I Seek Explanations Not Answers
GMAT/MBA Expert
- e-GMAT
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 645
- Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:42 pm
- Location: US
- Thanked: 527 times
- Followed by:227 members
GMAT tests punctuation when the use or misuse of punctuation results in distorted or ambiguous meaning. For example, in the question above, because of the way the commas are used, we do not know which verb the modifier is actually modifying. Similarly, if there is a comma prior to verb-ing modifier, then it modifies the preceding clause. If there is not a comma before the verb-ing modifier, then this modifier modifies the closest noun. So definitely, punctuation is tested in GMAT, especially when it impacts the communicated meaning.duongthang wrote:According to the explanation on the website, COMMA is the problem.e-GMAT wrote:In choice D, it is not clear what "almost" modifies. Per the intended meaning "almost" should modify 1900 implying "around 1900 - e.g. it could be in 1899 or 1901"³. But by placing "almost" before "until", the choice no longer communicates the intended approximation of time period "around 1900"³.
You may check the detailed solution for this problem at https://e-gmat.com/blogs/?p=552
Payal
OG questions now tests COMMA?. There is no questions in OG10 an OG11 which test COMMA.
Expert, please, give your ideas.
Register for free live sessions
Sentence Correction: Get 4 free video lessons, 50 practice questions
Critical Reasoning workshop: Get 4 free video lessons, 40 practice questions
Reading Comprehension: Get 2 free video lessons and 2 free eBooks
Free Strategy Session: Key strategy to score 760
Success Stories
V27 to V42 | V28 to V48 | V25 to V38 | More Success Stories
Sentence Correction: Get 4 free video lessons, 50 practice questions
Critical Reasoning workshop: Get 4 free video lessons, 40 practice questions
Reading Comprehension: Get 2 free video lessons and 2 free eBooks
Free Strategy Session: Key strategy to score 760
Success Stories
V27 to V42 | V28 to V48 | V25 to V38 | More Success Stories
Can you pls explain whyvoodoo_child wrote:Adam,SticklorForDetails wrote:voodoo_child wrote:Although various eighteenth- and nineteenth-century American poets had professed an interest in Native American poetry and had pretended to imitate Native American forms in their own works, until almost 1900, scholars and critics did not begin seriously to study traditional Native American poetry in native languages.
(A) until almost 1900, scholars and critics did not begin seriously to study
(B) until almost 1900 scholars and critics had not begun seriously studying
(C) not until almost 1900 were scholars and critics to begin seriously to study
(D) it was not almost until 1900 when scholars and critics began to seriously study
(E) it was not until almost 1900 that scholars and critics seriously began studying
I was able to arrive at the correct answer OA -E using tenses etc. However, I am not clear about "until almost" vs "almost until".
It will be great if you could elaborate with a few examples. I researched on the Internet and couldn't find substantial. There were a bunch of useless "IMO"s
Thanks
"Almost" is an adjective here, modifying 1900. While "not almost until 1900" in (D) is completely strange and unidiomatic anyway, the best way to analyze any such answer choice that moves "almost" around is to think logically about when this sentence is trying to say it is. By "almost 1900" they mean, say, 1899. Any choice that doesn't make it clear that it's 1899 would be wrong.
Here are some examples of grammatically-right-but-logically-different uses of "almost" in a similar context:
"It was almost before midnight when you first called me." In this case, "almost" is an adverb, modifying the adverbial-prepositional-phrase "before midnight," and it means "actually after midnight, but ALMOST before it," so maybe 12:01am
"It was almost midnight when you first called me." In this case, "almost" is an adjective, modifying the noun "midnight," and it means "just before midnight," so maybe 11:59pm
Hope that helps!
Wow! Your post is really awesome. My dictionary says "almost" can only be adverb. I will throw away my dictionary. I checked Websters and could grasp the concept.
I have a quick question though. I am not able understand why "almost before midnight" ~ 12.01. If I understand it correctly, "before midnight" ~ <12.00 am. Hence, almost X must be less than 12.00 am. Correct?
"It was almost before midnight when you first called me." In this case, "almost" is an adverb, modifying the adverbial-prepositional-phrase "before midnight," and it means "actually after midnight, but ALMOST before it," so maybe 12:01am
does not mean 11.59 but 12:01am
Thanks in Advance