tenses :)

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divya23: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 113; Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:58 amFollowed by: 14 members; Thanked: 2 times

by divya23 » Tue May 31, 2011 12:59 pm

Astronomers have theorized that the Big Bang governs the behavior of interstellar dust, particles that comprise the atoms and molecules created in the progenitive explosion and persisting in even the emptiest regions of space.

1.persisting
2.persists
3.persisted
4.they persist
5.are persisting

[spoiler]OA = 1
my doubt is why is it not 2 ??? have ....comprise ...den shd b persist shd b dere[/spoiler]

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Tue May 31, 2011 12:59 pm

Stuart@KaplanGMAT: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 3225; Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pmFollowed by: 614 members; Location: Toronto; Thanked: 1710 times; GMAT Score:800

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Tue May 31, 2011 1:07 pm

divya23 wrote:Astronomers have theorized that the Big Bang governs the behavior of interstellar dust, particles that comprise the atoms and molecules created in the progenitive explosion and persisting in even the emptiest regions of space.

1.persisting
2.persists
3.persisted
4.they persist
5.are persisting

[spoiler]OA = 1
my doubt is why is it not 2 ??? have ....comprise ...den shd b persist shd b dere[/spoiler]

Hi,

this seems like a poorly worded question, since as you point out "persisting" isn't parallel to "comprise".

However, (2) is definitely wrong, since particles "persist", not "persists" (particles are plural, so we need the plural version of the verb).

"persist" would have been the best word to use in the sentence. Of the choices given, "persisting" is the least offensive, but it's unlikely you'd see that as the correct answer on the actual GMAT.

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

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GMATMadeEasy: Legendary Member; Posts: 768; Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:46 amFollowed by: 7 members; Thanked: 21 times

by GMATMadeEasy » Tue May 31, 2011 1:52 pm

@Stuart: persist has to be parallel to created or comprise ? if created then persisting would be corrct as well no ?

the atoms and molecules created in the progenitive explosion and persisting in even the emptiest regions of space.

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anniananth: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 5; Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 10:47 pm

by anniananth » Tue May 31, 2011 9:59 pm

Stuart Kovinsky wrote:
divya23 wrote:Astronomers have theorized that the Big Bang governs the behavior of interstellar dust, particles that comprise the atoms and molecules created in the progenitive explosion and persisting in even the emptiest regions of space.

1.persisting
2.persists
3.persisted
4.they persist
5.are persisting

[spoiler]OA = 1
my doubt is why is it not 2 ??? have ....comprise ...den shd b persist shd b dere[/spoiler]
Hi,

this seems like a poorly worded question, since as you point out "persisting" isn't parallel to "comprise".

However, (2) is definitely wrong, since particles "persist", not "persists" (particles are plural, so we need the plural version of the verb).

"persist" would have been the best word to use in the sentence. Of the choices given, "persisting" is the least offensive, but it's unlikely you'd see that as the correct answer on the actual GMAT.

Hi Stuart,

Can't it be 3) PERSISTED ?
Because PERSISTED is parallel to CREATED.

particles that comprise the atoms and molecules CREATED in the progenitive explosion and PERSISTED in even the emptiest regions of space.

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champmag: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 234; Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:02 amFollowed by: 3 members; Thanked: 5 times

by champmag » Tue May 31, 2011 11:54 pm

Persisting is the present participle form of persist and "and" is a prallelism indicator.

Now,
past participle 'created' is parallel with the present participle 'persisiting'.

Thus A is the right Op.

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rohu27: Legendary Member; Posts: 586; Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:38 amFollowed by: 5 members; Thanked: 31 times; GMAT Score:730

by rohu27 » Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:21 am

anniananth wrote:
Stuart Kovinsky wrote:
divya23 wrote:Astronomers have theorized that the Big Bang governs the behavior of interstellar dust, particles that comprise the atoms and molecules created in the progenitive explosion and persisting in even the emptiest regions of space.

1.persisting
2.persists
3.persisted
4.they persist
5.are persisting

[spoiler]OA = 1
my doubt is why is it not 2 ??? have ....comprise ...den shd b persist shd b dere[/spoiler]
Hi,

this seems like a poorly worded question, since as you point out "persisting" isn't parallel to "comprise".

However, (2) is definitely wrong, since particles "persist", not "persists" (particles are plural, so we need the plural version of the verb).

"persist" would have been the best word to use in the sentence. Of the choices given, "persisting" is the least offensive, but it's unlikely you'd see that as the correct answer on the actual GMAT.
Hi Stuart,

Can't it be 3) PERSISTED ?
Because PERSISTED is parallel to CREATED.

particles that comprise the atoms and molecules CREATED in the progenitive explosion and PERSISTED in even the emptiest regions of space.

particles that X and Y
particles that comprise and persist ...comprise and persist shud be parallel.
but as Stuart explained, we may not see the correct option wth persisting on the actual exam.

Have time? https://www.beatthegmat.com/730-q-50-v40 ... 88058.html

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