Good day,
While reading the manhattan sentence correction book, I got through the following note:
You have to be careful about ambiguity with a like phrase at the end of a sentence:
(1) I want to coach divers LIKE Greg Louganis.
= I want to coach divers WHO ARE LIKE Greg Louganis.
OR
= I want to coach divers IN THE SAME WAY AS Greg Louganis does.
(2) I want to coach divers, LIKEGreg Louganis. (note the comma before like)
= LIKE Greg Louganis. I want to coach divers. (he coaches divers; I want to do
so.)
My question is : if I came across a sentence with a comma before like at the end of the sentence, does it mean that the ambiguity is lifted (is the sentence correct)?
Many thanks in advance
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Comma before like
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Mike@Magoosh
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Dear Amadalia,Amadalia wrote:Good day,
While reading the manhattan sentence correction book, I got through the following note:
You have to be careful about ambiguity with a like phrase at the end of a sentence:
(1) I want to coach divers LIKE Greg Louganis.
= I want to coach divers WHO ARE LIKE Greg Louganis.
OR
= I want to coach divers IN THE SAME WAY AS Greg Louganis does.
(2) I want to coach divers, LIKEGreg Louganis. (note the comma before like)
= LIKE Greg Louganis. I want to coach divers. (he coaches divers; I want to do
so.)
My question is : if I came across a sentence with a comma before like at the end of the sentence, does it mean that the ambiguity is lifted (is the sentence correct)?
Many thanks in advance
I'm happy to respond.
As far as the presence or absence of the comma, see:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/gmat-gramm ... modifiers/
As I think about your question, I believe the comma would always resolve the ambiguity --- I can't think of a cogent example in which it doesn't. I will say, though, I don't know that I have ever seen this particular grammatical form tested on an official question.
I hope all this helps.
Mike
Magoosh GMAT Instructor
https://gmat.magoosh.com/
https://gmat.magoosh.com/
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GMATGuruNY
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Check here for an official SC that tests the usage of comma + like:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/tough-sc-t112890.html
https://www.beatthegmat.com/tough-sc-t112890.html
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Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
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