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Cotton Gin

by imskpwr » Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:38 am
The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity; it was costly before that.

being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity; it was costly before that

having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity, costly previously

one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable, however costly previously, commodity

one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity, whereas it had previously been costly

being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously costly commodity to an affordable one

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by machichi » Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:03 am
Discussed here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mgmat-700-80 ... 60737.html

"Being and having been" are super wordy, so for me it was easy to narrow down to only C and D. "However costly previously" is not pretty. It's downright weird.

That leaves D.
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by imskpwr » Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:19 am
machichi wrote:Discussed here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mgmat-700-80 ... 60737.html

"Being and having been" are super wordy, so for me it was easy to narrow down to only C and D. "However costly previously" is not pretty. It's downright weird.

That leaves D.
pls explain the errors in C
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by ankit0411 » Wed Sep 05, 2012 8:05 pm
imskpwr wrote:
machichi wrote:Discussed here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mgmat-700-80 ... 60737.html

"Being and having been" are super wordy, so for me it was easy to narrow down to only C and D. "However costly previously" is not pretty. It's downright weird.

That leaves D.
pls explain the errors in C

one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable, however costly previously, commodity

This line does not really fit into the sentence, creating an awkward meaning. It should just be an "affordable commodity" . Even if however costly previously is modifying cotton cloth - it really is not helping in giving a concise meaning to the sentence.
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by imskpwr » Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:28 am
ankit0411 wrote:
imskpwr wrote:
machichi wrote:Discussed here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mgmat-700-80 ... 60737.html

"Being and having been" are super wordy, so for me it was easy to narrow down to only C and D. "However costly previously" is not pretty. It's downright weird.

That leaves D.
pls explain the errors in C

one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable, however costly previously, commodity

This line does not really fit into the sentence, creating an awkward meaning. It should just be an "affordable commodity" . Even if however costly previously is modifying cotton cloth - it really is not helping in giving a concise meaning to the sentence.
No help at all.
Please don't mind, but I need a better explanation.
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by machichi » Thu Sep 06, 2012 11:56 am
How about this--it's almost never proper grammar to have two consecutive adverbs in a row where one adverb is modifying the second adverb.

Adverbs that modify ONLY a verb are fine.
(+) He thinks quickly, accurately, and wholesomely.

Adverbs that modify another adverb are weird. It's not to say they're wrong, it's just highly unusual.
(-) The previously costly book was now affordable. (The adverb modifies an adverb, yuck! It's not wrong, but it is hard to say and is not good writing)
(+) The book used to be costly, but is now affordable. (The adverb modifies a verb--this is fine)
(+) The formerly over-priced book is now affordable. (The adverb modifies an adjective--this is fine)
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by imskpwr » Thu Sep 06, 2012 6:38 pm
machichi wrote:How about this--it's almost never proper grammar to have two consecutive adverbs in a row where one adverb is modifying the second adverb.

Adverbs that modify ONLY a verb are fine.
(+) He thinks quickly, accurately, and wholesomely.

Adverbs that modify another adverb are weird. It's not to say they're wrong, it's just highly unusual.
(-) The previously costly book was now affordable. (The adverb modifies an adverb, yuck! It's not wrong, but it is hard to say and is not good writing)
(+) The book used to be costly, but is now affordable. (The adverb modifies a verb--this is fine)
(+) The formerly over-priced book is now affordable. (The adverb modifies an adjective--this is fine)
Yup!
I agree. But In GMAT is this a good enough rule to RULE OUT any option.
Can you cite some OG examples in which this is the make or break for an option.
Thanks!
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by machichi » Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:37 pm
No, this is why you need to look for the best answer, not the correct answer.
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by imskpwr » Fri Sep 07, 2012 8:13 am
machichi wrote:No, this is why you need to look for the best answer, not the correct answer.
Thanks!
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by GMATGuruNY » Fri Sep 07, 2012 8:44 am
C implies the following: a costly previously commodity.

Costly is an ADJECTIVE that means expensive.
What kind of commodity?
A COSTLY commodity.
Here, previously serves as an ADVERB modifying costly, indicating WHEN the commodity was costly.
A modifier should be as close as possible to what it's modifying.
Hence, the correct ordering is ADVERB + ADJECTIVE + NOUN, which positions the adjective next to the noun and the adverb next to the adjective.
Correct: a previously costly commodity.
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by imskpwr » Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:15 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:C implies the following: a costly previously commodity.

Costly is an ADJECTIVE that means expensive.
What kind of commodity?
A COSTLY commodity.
Here, previously serves as an ADVERB modifying costly, indicating WHEN the commodity was costly.
A modifier should be as close as possible to what it's modifying.
Hence, the correct ordering is ADVERB + ADJECTIVE + NOUN, which positions the adjective next to the noun and the adverb next to the adjective.
Correct: a previously costly commodity.
This is a correct explanation.
Thanks
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by GMATGuruNY » Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:36 am
imskpwr wrote:
GMATGuruNY wrote:C implies the following: a costly previously commodity.

Costly is an ADJECTIVE that means expensive.
What kind of commodity?
A COSTLY commodity.
Here, previously serves as an ADVERB modifying costly, indicating WHEN the commodity was costly.
A modifier should be as close as possible to what it's modifying.
Hence, the correct ordering is ADVERB + ADJECTIVE + NOUN, which positions the adjective next to the noun and the adverb next to the adjective.
Correct: a previously costly commodity.
This is a correct explanation.
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It should be noted that -- regardless of the modifier error discussed above -- C does not convey the intended meaning.
The invention turned cotton into a previously costly commodity.
No: the invention did not turn cotton into what it USED TO BE (a previously costly commodity).
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by swathi8388 » Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:04 am
I think the answer is E.

being modifies the whole phrase 'The invention of the cotton gin' because comma + ing modifies the entire previous clause

'turned cotton cloth from a previously costly commodity to an affordable one' clearly explains the intended meaning.
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by veenu08 » Thu Jun 13, 2013 3:27 am
Can someone please explain why B is incorrect.
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by Imsukhi » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:01 pm
I think the answer is E
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