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

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Doubt-Expert Reply Needed

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1132
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:38 amFollowed by: 6 members
Location: India
Thanked: 64 times
GMAT Score:760
by harsh.champ » Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:01 pm
(Source:BTG Practice Questions)
A majority of observers interviewed see the Middle East as unstable at present but that it will, or could, become less volatile in the future.

A)that it will, or could,
B)that it would, or could,
C)it will be or could
D)believe that it will be or could
E)think the Middle East would or could

The OA is D.

The explanation is as follows:-
[spoiler]The main issue here is parallel structure.
(D) adds the necessary verb to parallel "see" and uses the correct tense.

(A), (B), and (C) all share the same parallel structure problem: what follows "but" has to be parallel to something that precedes it, but "that it will or could" isn't parallel to either "see" or "unstable" (E) needlessly repeats "Middle East"; also, "would" is incorrect.[/spoiler]


My question is - Why are we considering different verb tense "will" and "could".Why using "would" is incorrect but using "could" is right?
It takes time and effort to explain, so if my comment helped you please press Thanks button :)



Just because something is hard doesn't mean you shouldn't try,it means you should just try harder.

"Keep Walking" - Johnny Walker :P
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1309
Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:34 amFollowed by: 123 members
Location: India
Thanked: 310 times
GMAT Score:750

by cans » Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:06 pm
IMO D
would is used for hypothetical cases..
If my post helped you- let me know by pushing the thanks button ;)

Contact me about long distance tutoring!
[email protected]

Cans!!
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:50 pm

by kareem.firoz » Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:19 pm
D)believe that it will be or could, become

Why is 'be' required here? Wouldn't the 'become' that follows 'could' (in the original sentence) serve the purpose?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1132
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:38 amFollowed by: 6 members
Location: India
Thanked: 64 times
GMAT Score:760

by harsh.champ » Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:33 am
kareem.firoz wrote:D)believe that it will be or could, become

Why is 'be' required here? Wouldn't the 'become' that follows 'could' (in the original sentence) serve the purpose?
I am also doubtful about the will 'be'.

Expert Help needed!!
It takes time and effort to explain, so if my comment helped you please press Thanks button :)



Just because something is hard doesn't mean you shouldn't try,it means you should just try harder.

"Keep Walking" - Johnny Walker :P
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 amFollowed by: 43 members
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
GMAT Score:640

by GmatKiss » Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:38 am
harsh.champ wrote:(Source:BTG Practice Questions)
A majority of observers interviewed see the Middle East as unstable at present but that it will, or could, become less volatile in the future.

A)that it will, or could,
B)that it would, or could,
C)it will be or could
D)believe that it will be or could
E)think the Middle East would or could

The OA is D.

The explanation is as follows:-
[spoiler]The main issue here is parallel structure.
(D) adds the necessary verb to parallel "see" and uses the correct tense.

(A), (B), and (C) all share the same parallel structure problem: what follows "but" has to be parallel to something that precedes it, but "that it will or could" isn't parallel to either "see" or "unstable" (E) needlessly repeats "Middle East"; also, "would" is incorrect.[/spoiler]


My question is - Why are we considering different verb tense "will" and "could".Why using "would" is incorrect but using "could" is right?
Hi harsh.champ,

Please underline/differentiate the portion of the question under study.
I dont think your post will keep any reader interested.
Please edit the post and underline the portion on focus!

-GK
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:12 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 4 times

by mankey » Thu Sep 22, 2011 4:38 am
From where can one find BTG Practice Questions?

Mankey
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1132
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:38 amFollowed by: 6 members
Location: India
Thanked: 64 times
GMAT Score:760

by harsh.champ » Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:36 am
Go to magoosh.com.
GMAT BTG Practice Questions can be found there.
It takes time and effort to explain, so if my comment helped you please press Thanks button :)



Just because something is hard doesn't mean you shouldn't try,it means you should just try harder.

"Keep Walking" - Johnny Walker :P
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1132
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:38 amFollowed by: 6 members
Location: India
Thanked: 64 times
GMAT Score:760

by harsh.champ » Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:38 am
GmatKiss wrote:
harsh.champ wrote:(Source:BTG Practice Questions)
A majority of observers interviewed see the Middle East as unstable at present but that it will, or could, become less volatile in the future.

A)that it will, or could,
B)that it would, or could,
C)it will be or could
D)believe that it will be or could
E)think the Middle East would or could

The OA is D.

The explanation is as follows:-
[spoiler]The main issue here is parallel structure.
(D) adds the necessary verb to parallel "see" and uses the correct tense.

(A), (B), and (C) all share the same parallel structure problem: what follows "but" has to be parallel to something that precedes it, but "that it will or could" isn't parallel to either "see" or "unstable" (E) needlessly repeats "Middle East"; also, "would" is incorrect.[/spoiler]


My question is - Why are we considering different verb tense "will" and "could".Why using "would" is incorrect but using "could" is right?
Hi harsh.champ,

Please underline/differentiate the portion of the question under study.
I dont think your post will keep any reader interested.
Please edit the post and underline the portion on focus!

-GK
The spoiler contains my doubt.
Sorry if it was not clear.
It takes time and effort to explain, so if my comment helped you please press Thanks button :)



Just because something is hard doesn't mean you shouldn't try,it means you should just try harder.

"Keep Walking" - Johnny Walker :P
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:12 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 4 times

by mankey » Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:14 am
On magoosh.com, is it available for free or for a price? If available free, could someone please provide me the link. Will really appreciate help. (I tried but could not find the link).

Thanks
Mankey
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 641
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:07 pmFollowed by: 45 members
Location: Madison, WI
Thanked: 162 times
GMAT Score:760

by Jim@Grockit » Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:31 am
harsh.champ wrote:(Source:BTG Practice Questions)
A majority of observers interviewed see the Middle East as unstable at present but that it will, or could, become less volatile in the future.

A)that it will, or could,
B)that it would, or could,
C)it will be or could
D)believe that it will be or could
E)think the Middle East would or could

The OA is D.

The explanation is as follows:-
[spoiler]The main issue here is parallel structure.
(D) adds the necessary verb to parallel "see" and uses the correct tense.

(A), (B), and (C) all share the same parallel structure problem: what follows "but" has to be parallel to something that precedes it, but "that it will or could" isn't parallel to either "see" or "unstable" (E) needlessly repeats "Middle East"; also, "would" is incorrect.[/spoiler]


My question is - Why are we considering different verb tense "will" and "could".Why using "would" is incorrect but using "could" is right?
There is nothing naughty about using more than one verb tense in a sentence (I have been busy, so I will go shopping tomorrow instead), so the future "will" and present "could" can coexist.

"Would" as a modal verb (as opposed to a past tense of "will") expresses hypothetical preference/interest, where "could" expresses potential. A region cannot have a preference (though obviously the people there can).
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 amFollowed by: 43 members
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
GMAT Score:640

by GmatKiss » Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:07 am
IMO: D,

A majority of observers interviewed see the Middle East as unstable at present but believe that it will be or could become less volatile in the future.

see is for the current state.
believe is for the future state (prediction)

SEE and BELIEVE are not redundant.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:12 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 4 times

by mankey » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:21 am
On magoosh.com, is it (BTG Practice Questions) available for free or for a price? If available free, could someone please provide me the link. Will really appreciate help. (I tried but could not find the link).

Thanks
Mankey
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2010 5:05 am
Location: India

by rajeevrks27 » Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:32 am
+1D
good one
Fire the final bullet only when you are constantly hitting the Bull's eye...till then KEEP PRACTISING...
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1