imhimanshu wrote:Hi
Can someone let me know the difference betwen the following two constructions:

Interest rates declined steadily during the first six months of this year.

Interest rates steadily declined during the first six months of this year.

How these constructions differ from each other. Experts,Please help.
Thanks

Interest rates declined steadily during the first six months of this year.
This means the rate of interest declined and the rate of decline was steady/stable during the period of six months. Assume the rate of interest in 1st mnth(100), 2nd mnth(50), 3rd mnth(25) and so on.. So you will notice that in every subsequent month its reducing by fixed 50%.

Interest rates steadily declined during the first six months of this year.
This means that interest rates dropped/declined in every month during the six month period, however the rate of individual decline might or might not be the same.
Assume rate of interest in 1st mnth(100), 2nd mnth(80), 3rd mnth(40), 4th mnth(36).
We notice interest rate is declining subsequently however rate of declinations are: 20%, 50%, 10% respectively..

sameerballani wrote:

imhimanshu wrote:Hi
Can someone let me know the difference betwen the following two constructions:

Interest rates declined steadily during the first six months of this year.

Interest rates steadily declined during the first six months of this year.

How these constructions differ from each other. Experts,Please help.
Thanks

Interest rates declined steadily during the first six months of this year.
This means the rate of interest declined and the rate of decline was steady/stable during the period of six months. Assume the rate of interest in 1st mnth(100), 2nd mnth(50), 3rd mnth(25) and so on.. So you will notice that in every subsequent month its reducing by fixed 50%.

Interest rates steadily declined during the first six months of this year.
This means that interest rates dropped/declined in every month during the six month period, however the rate of individual decline might or might not be the same.
Assume rate of interest in 1st mnth(100), 2nd mnth(80), 3rd mnth(40), 4th mnth(36).
We notice interest rate is declining subsequently however rate of declinations are: 20%, 50%, 10% respectively..

I disagree with this assessment. I would say that the two mean the same thing. Some adverbs cannot be placed after the verb (e.g. ALMOST, NOT QUITE), and in shorter clauses you will often expect many adverbs after the verb:

He ran quickly.
He ran quickly to the bus stop.
He quickly ran to the bus stop.
He quickly ran. (less common in many contexts)

imhimanshu wrote:Hi
Can someone let me know the difference betwen the following two constructions:

Interest rates declined steadily during the first six months of this year.

Interest rates steadily declined during the first six months of this year.

How these constructions differ from each other. Experts,Please help.

Thanks

Hi,

the two sentences are essentially the same. The GMAT will never present two such similar choices and force you to choose between them.