Gardener

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GmatKiss: 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 » Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:07 am

If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden, he might get a better display of flowers.

A. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden
B. If the gardener sowed the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden
C. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than in the garden
D. If the gardener were to sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than in the garden
E. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse instead of the garden

OA after some discussion!

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:07 am

Krk: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 9; Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:40 am

by Krk » Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:23 am

The mistake here, seeds are sowed "in" the garden.
C. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than in the garden

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winniethepooh: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 370; Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:50 pmFollowed by: 2 members; Location: Arlington, MA.; Thanked: 27 times

by winniethepooh » Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:17 am

GmatKiss wrote:If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden, he might get a better display of flowers.

A. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden
B. If the gardener sowed the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden
C. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than in the garden
D. If the gardener were to sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than in the garden
E. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse instead of the garden

OA after some discussion!

There is a need for Hypothetical subjunctive form in the formation of this sentence.(This is a proposal)
'Would' should never be used in the 'if .....' part of the sentence.(Very important)
Also, 'would' should be replaced by a to be verb like 'were'.
Lastly, 'rather than the garden' should be replaced by 'rather than in the garden'.

The correct answer is D.

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GmatKiss: 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 » Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:31 am

winniethepooh wrote:
GmatKiss wrote:If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden, he might get a better display of flowers.

A. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden
B. If the gardener sowed the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden
C. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than in the garden
D. If the gardener were to sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than in the garden
E. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse instead of the garden

OA after some discussion!
There is a need for Hypothetical subjunctive form in the formation of this sentence.(This is a proposal)
'Would' should never be used in the 'if .....' part of the sentence.(Very important)
Also, 'would' should be replaced by a to be verb like 'were'.
Lastly, 'rather than the garden' should be replaced by 'rather than in the garden'.

The correct answer is D.

Can you please elaborate on the red part! Also please give us a few more cases where this rule holds true.

TIA,
GK

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winniethepooh: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 370; Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:50 pmFollowed by: 2 members; Location: Arlington, MA.; Thanked: 27 times

by winniethepooh » Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:02 am

GmatKiss wrote:
winniethepooh wrote:
GmatKiss wrote:If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden, he might get a better display of flowers.

A. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden
B. If the gardener sowed the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden
C. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than in the garden
D. If the gardener were to sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than in the garden
E. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse instead of the garden

OA after some discussion!
There is a need for Hypothetical subjunctive form in the formation of this sentence.(This is a proposal)
'Would' should never be used in the 'if .....' part of the sentence.(Very important)
Also, 'would' should be replaced by a to be verb like 'were'.
Lastly, 'rather than the garden' should be replaced by 'rather than in the garden'.

The correct answer is D.
Can you please elaborate on the red part! Also please give us a few more cases where this rule holds true.

TIA,
GK

You understood the hypothetical subjunctive part right?
the usage of 'would' or 'should' is not allowed in the 'IF....' part of the sentence. That is , in the 'if....' clause of a sentence.

Eg. If I would be a rich man, I will own a Ferrari. (This is a wrong sentence)

You should use : If I were a rich man, I will own a ferrari.

If Gmatkiss would play football, then he catches fever.(wrong)
If Gmatkiss plays football, then he catches fever.(right)

This is a rule basically for 'if...... , then......' sentences but also applies to the question being discussed in this thread.

I hope this helps.

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arashyazdiha: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 102; Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 3:42 am; Thanked: 2 times

by arashyazdiha » Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:04 am

I would go with D.
If I were a rich man, I would buy a big house.
The "would" can be substituted bu might and could.

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aspirant2011: Legendary Member; Posts: 1574; Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:52 amFollowed by: 13 members; Thanked: 88 times

by aspirant2011 » Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:07 am

for subjunctive i.e hypothetical situations you are not supposed to use extreme words like should, would etc..........

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