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Subjunctive Usage

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Subjunctive Usage

by yvonne0923 » Wed May 11, 2011 9:38 pm
If the biologist was correct, the symbiotic relationship of whales and barnacles is the result of evolution.

A. If the biologist was correct, the symbiotic relationship of
B. Should the biologist be correct, the symbiotic relationship of
C. If the biologist is correct, the relationship that is symbiotic between
D. If the biologist is correct, the symbiotic relationship between
E. Should the biologist have been correct, the symbiotic relationship betweem















___________________________________________________________________________________________________
[spoiler]O.A: D[/spoiler]
I understand that "the relationship between" should be used in this question, but I am confusing about the subjunctive usage of "If", are we supposed to use "If the biologist WERE correct,..." rather than " If the biologist is correct,..."

Thanks,
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by smackmartine » Wed May 11, 2011 10:07 pm
Correct idiom is "relationship between"
A and B out
C looks awkward
Close call between C and D

The non underline portion is in present tense. We do not want to change the tense because there is no such indication.
Option D is better.

Also if you use subjunctive mood, sentence can be rewritten as :

If the biologist WERE correct, the symbiotic relationship between whales and barnacles WOULD BE the result of evolution. (WOULD IS NECESSARY) ---> this sentence could be incorrect but with subjunctive mood "WOULD" is required in the non underline portion.
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by yvonne0923 » Wed May 11, 2011 10:20 pm
smackmartine wrote:Correct idiom is "relationship between"
A and B out
C looks awkward
Close call between C and D

The non underline portion is in present tense. We do not want to change the tense because there is no such indication.
Option D is better.

Also if you use subjunctive mood, sentence can be rewritten as :

If the biologist WERE correct, the symbiotic relationship between whales and barnacles WOULD BE the result of evolution. (WOULD IS NECESSARY) ---> this sentence could be incorrect but with subjunctive mood "WOULD" is required in the non underline portion.
thanks, I am clear now.
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by GMATGuruNY » Thu May 12, 2011 3:23 am
yvonne0923 wrote:If the biologist was correct, the symbiotic relationship of whales and barnacles is the result of evolution.

A. If the biologist was correct, the symbiotic relationship of
B. Should the biologist be correct, the symbiotic relationship of
C. If the biologist is correct, the relationship that is symbiotic between
D. If the biologist is correct, the symbiotic relationship between
E. Should the biologist have been correct, the symbiotic relationship betweem















___________________________________________________________________________________________________
[spoiler]O.A: D[/spoiler]
I understand that "the relationship between" should be used in this question, but I am confusing about the subjunctive usage of "If", are we supposed to use "If the biologist WERE correct,..." rather than " If the biologist is correct,..."

Thanks,
Please note the following distinctions:

If the biologist IS correct, the relationship IS the result of evolution.

The sentence above implies that the biologist MIGHT BE correct and that the relationship MIGHT BE the result of evolution (all in the present).

If the biologist WERE correct, the relationship WOULD BE the result of evolution.

The sentence above (which feels awkward) implies that the biologist IS NOT correct and that the relationship IS NOT the result of evolution (all in the present).

If the biologist WAS correct, the relationship WAS the result of evolution.

The sentence above implies that the biologist MIGHT HAVE BEEN correct and that the relationship MIGHT HAVE BEEN the result of evolution (all in the past). This situation is unlikely to be addressed on the GMAT.

If the biologist HAD BEEN correct, the relationship WOULD HAVE BEEN the result of evolution.

The sentence above implies that the biologist WAS NOT correct and that the relationship WAS NOT the result of evolution (all in the past).
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by yvonne0923 » Thu May 12, 2011 11:50 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
yvonne0923 wrote:If the biologist was correct, the symbiotic relationship of whales and barnacles is the result of evolution.

A. If the biologist was correct, the symbiotic relationship of
B. Should the biologist be correct, the symbiotic relationship of
C. If the biologist is correct, the relationship that is symbiotic between
D. If the biologist is correct, the symbiotic relationship between
E. Should the biologist have been correct, the symbiotic relationship betweem















___________________________________________________________________________________________________
[spoiler]O.A: D[/spoiler]
I understand that "the relationship between" should be used in this question, but I am confusing about the subjunctive usage of "If", are we supposed to use "If the biologist WERE correct,..." rather than " If the biologist is correct,..."

Thanks,
Please note the following distinctions:

If the biologist IS correct, the relationship IS the result of evolution.

The sentence above implies that the biologist MIGHT BE correct and that the relationship MIGHT BE the result of evolution (all in the present).

If the biologist WERE correct, the relationship WOULD BE the result of evolution.

The sentence above (which feels awkward) implies that the biologist IS NOT correct and that the relationship IS NOT the result of evolution (all in the present).

If the biologist WAS correct, the relationship WAS the result of evolution.

The sentence above implies that the biologist MIGHT HAVE BEEN correct and that the relationship MIGHT HAVE BEEN the result of evolution (all in the past). This situation is unlikely to be addressed on the GMAT.

If the biologist HAD BEEN correct, the relationship WOULD HAVE BEEN the result of evolution.

The sentence above implies that the biologist WAS NOT correct and that the relationship WAS NOT the result of evolution (all in the past).
Thanks for the detailed explanation.
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