BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Parallel Issue

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 307
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:52 pm
Thanked: 36 times
Followed by:1 members
GMAT Score:640

Parallel Issue

by limestone » Thu Dec 08, 2011 6:53 pm
This is a question from Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction. Parallel Section.

Many teachers choose to seek employment in the suburbs rather than facing low salaries in the city.

The official answer is to change "facing low salaries in the city" to "face low salaries in the city".

My question is that why not change the underlined phrase to "to face low salaries in the city".
Is the pattern "choose X rather than Y" correct? If so, "to seek employment" must be parallel to "to face low salaries".

Another sentence may be similar is:


They never want to go to that party, but stay at home.

Or

They never want to go to that party, but to stay at home.


Which sentence is correct? And why?

Would appreciate if any expert can explain.
"There is nothing either good or bad - but thinking makes it so" - Shakespeare.
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 795
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 10:41 am
Thanked: 177 times
Followed by:85 members

by essaysnark » Fri Dec 09, 2011 7:38 am
Hey limestone --

In the ManGMAT example, the verb is the only aspect that needs to be parallel, so "seek" and "face" are correct. The word "to" is technically called an infinitive marker in this case and does not need to be repeated or reused (� do you see how we just used another example of the same grammar rule in this sentence?).

The second example you cited is a little clunky and doesn't quite match the structure of the ManGMAT example. Let's try it this way instead:

They want to stay at home rather than go to that party.

In this case, "stay" and "go" are correctly parallel, and the word "to" (from "want to") is not repeated.

If we try to rephrase the sentence closer to how you presented it, we'd go with:

They do not want to go to that party, but will stay at home instead.

(Sorry, can't come up with a phrasing that uses "to" as an infinitive marker the way you have...)

HTH!
EssaySnark
EssaySnark has MBA application guides for HBS, Stanford, Booth, Wharton, NYU and pretty much any other school you can name - including a fully revised and expanded 2015 Columbia essay guide!
https://essaysnark.com/bookstore/
* * * * * * *
The Indians' Guide to Getting In maps out everything you need to evaluate your own profile and select your schools. https://essaysnark.com/ssguide/quicksnar ... ans-guide/
* * * * * * *
MILITARY CANDIDATES! We've got some pro bono offers just for you: https://essaysnark.com/military-mba/
* * * * * * *
Follow EssaySnark on Twitter!
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3380
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:20 am
Thanked: 2256 times
Followed by:1535 members
GMAT Score:800

by lunarpower » Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:27 pm
limestone wrote:This is a question from Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction. Parallel Section.

Many teachers choose to seek employment in the suburbs rather than facing low salaries in the city.

The official answer is to change "facing low salaries in the city" to "face low salaries in the city".

My question is that why not change the underlined phrase to "to face low salaries in the city".
Is the pattern "choose X rather than Y" correct? If so, "to seek employment" must be parallel to "to face low salaries".
either version would be fine.
the one listed in the guide is the more compact of the two, but you wouldn't be forced to choose between them (as both are correct). for an official problem with a similar structure -- in fact, the problem upon which that particular exercise is based -- see #39 in the official guide verbal supplement.

They never want to go to that party, but stay at home.

Or

They never want to go to that party, but to stay at home.
out of these two, i think the second is better, because it more clearly delineates the actual contrast (between "to go" and "to stay"). the problem with the first sentence is that it's not crystal clear which verbs are actually being placed in contrast -- one could interpret the sentence as a contrast between "go" and "stay", but one could also interpret it as a contrast between "want (to go)" and "stay".
Ron has been teaching various standardized tests for 20 years.

--

Pueden hacerle preguntas a Ron en castellano
Potete chiedere domande a Ron in italiano
On peut poser des questions à Ron en français
Voit esittää kysymyksiä Ron:lle myös suomeksi

--

Quand on se sent bien dans un vêtement, tout peut arriver. Un bon vêtement, c'est un passeport pour le bonheur.

Yves Saint-Laurent

--

Learn more about ron
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:15 am

by jaichil » Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:33 am
Many teachers choose to seek employment in the suburbs rather than face low salaries in the city.

In this sentence, Could one interpret it as a contrast between "choose" and "face"?
Teachers "choose" something rather than "face" something.
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 795
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 10:41 am
Thanked: 177 times
Followed by:85 members

by essaysnark » Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:48 am
jaichil wrote:Many teachers choose to seek employment in the suburbs rather than face low salaries in the city.

In this sentence, Could one interpret it as a contrast between "choose" and "face"?
Teachers "choose" something rather than "face" something.
Nope. The contrast is between seeking and facing (working in the 'burbs - oh the agony! - vs poor pay in the big city).

Funny - this is actually a ridiculous sentence, since salaries are higher in the cities... but you get the point. :D

EssaySnark
EssaySnark has MBA application guides for HBS, Stanford, Booth, Wharton, NYU and pretty much any other school you can name - including a fully revised and expanded 2015 Columbia essay guide!
https://essaysnark.com/bookstore/
* * * * * * *
The Indians' Guide to Getting In maps out everything you need to evaluate your own profile and select your schools. https://essaysnark.com/ssguide/quicksnar ... ans-guide/
* * * * * * *
MILITARY CANDIDATES! We've got some pro bono offers just for you: https://essaysnark.com/military-mba/
* * * * * * *
Follow EssaySnark on Twitter!
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1