"which amounts to...." vs. "amounting to"

publicproxy · Last edited by publicproxy on Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:12 am; edited 2 times in total

Hi guys,

I am having a hard time discerning between choices A&D. It's a recurring theme, so could someone clarify this once and for all. To me choice A is correct, but apparently it's choice D that is right. Can someone explain why?

For the first time in the modern era, non-Hispanic Whites are officially a minority in California, which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly there-quarters only a decade ago.

A. which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters only a decade ago
B. which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from a decade ago, when it was nearly three-quarters
C. and that amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from a decade ago, when they were nearly three-quarters
D. amounting to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters a decade ago
E. amounting to a little less than half the population of the state, down from what it was a decade ago by nearly three-quarters

amitansu · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:04 am Post subject:

In choice 5 "down from what it was a decade ago by nearly three-quarters" is wordy as compared to choice 4 " down from nearly three-quarters a decade ago".

This is what my understanding.
Any expert/s vew here !!

Amit

publicproxy · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:10 am Post subject:

Thanks Amit. Any general ideas about choices A vs. choice D.

.....California, which amounts to......
.....California, amounting......

I'm not sure about the grammar rules here. Is D absolutely right and A absolutely wrong, or is this an issue of which one is "more correct" (stuff that I dislike about the GMAT)

celeste.kr

Hello, publicproxy.

I think 'which amouts to' is not at all a problem. This question seems more about clarity.

If we use 'which amounts', it sounds confusing because we are not sure whether 'California' amount or 'non-Hispanic Whites' amounts.
By using 'amounting~', we can specify the subject more clearly, because usually a subject of the participle sentence is the subject of the main sentence.

publicproxy · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject:

Hi Celeste,

Yes, now I do see the problem. I guess I take it for granted in daily conversation, but I can see why someone could be confused.

Thanks