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sentence correction

by deepakk » Thu Jan 23, 2014 9:07 pm
The computer company's present troubles are a result of technological stagnation, marketing
missteps, and managerial blunders so that several attempts to revise corporate strategies have
failed to correct it.
A. so that several attempts to revise corporate strategies have failed to correct it
B. so that several attempts at revising corporate strategies have failed to correct
C. in that several attempts at revising corporate strategies have failed to correct them
D. that several attempts to revise corporate strategies have failed to correct
E. that several attempts at revising corporate strategies have failed to correct them

Please tell me the steps to solve this question.
Why to choose 'IT','without IT', and Them.
Please also tell me when to use 'So that', 'In that', and only 'That'
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by AnjaliOberoi » Thu Jan 23, 2014 9:35 pm
Subject here is computer company's troubles (plural) and attempts to is correct usage.

In option A, we can't use "it" because "it" is going to computer company's troubles, which is plural.
In option B, we have attempts at and so that is also not correct. i believe so is used in cases where we are concluding something....
C and E- Attempts at(wrong),usage of "them is also wrong" as it is refering to subject (trouble's) but usage is redundant
eg the car is of red colors and has 4 seats(correct)
the car is of red color and has 4 seats in it.(wrong)

D is correct
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by theCodeToGMAT » Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:39 pm
Nicely done!!!
AnjaliOberoi wrote:Subject here is computer company's troubles (plural) and attempts to is correct usage.

In option A, we can't use "it" because "it" is going to computer company's troubles, which is plural.
In option B, we have attempts at and so that is also not correct. i believe so is used in cases where we are concluding something....
C and E- Attempts at(wrong),usage of "them is also wrong" as it is refering to subject (trouble's) but usage is redundant
eg the car is of red colors and has 4 seats(correct)
the car is of red color and has 4 seats in it.(wrong)

D is correct
R A H U L
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by ceilidh.erickson » Fri Jan 24, 2014 2:31 pm
Anjali is correct - we can't use "it" here, since "blunders" is plural.

To more specifically explain the difference between D and E, we need to examine subordinate clauses...

When we use the relative pronoun "that," we're creating a subordinate clause. Within the subordinate clause, we need a subject and a verb. Consider:

The book that is on the table is blue.
The book that you bought for me is blue.

In each of these examples, "that" begins a subordinate clause that modifies the noun "book." In the first example, the pronoun "that" is the subject of the subordinate clause, and the verb is "is."

In the second example, though, "you bought" is the subject and verb of the subordinate clause, and "that" is the object.

In the example sentence we're discussing,
that several attempts at revising corporate strategies have failed to correct them
the subject and verb are "attempts... have failed to correct." And what have attempts failed to correct? The managerial blunders - represented in this clause by the pronoun "that." The pronoun "that" is the object of the clause.

If we use "them" at the end of the clause as well, then it's redundant. We've used two different to function as the same object. That's why we shouldn't use "them," and the correct answer is D.
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
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sentence correction

by Mo2men » Thu Apr 04, 2019 2:45 pm
ceilidh.erickson wrote:Anjali is correct - we can't use "it" here, since "blunders" is plural.

To more specifically explain the difference between D and E, we need to examine subordinate clauses...

When we use the relative pronoun "that," we're creating a subordinate clause. Within the subordinate clause, we need a subject and a verb. Consider:

The book that is on the table is blue.
The book that you bought for me is blue.

In each of these examples, "that" begins a subordinate clause that modifies the noun "book." In the first example, the pronoun "that" is the subject of the subordinate clause, and the verb is "is."

In the second example, though, "you bought" is the subject and verb of the subordinate clause, and "that" is the object.

In the example sentence we're discussing,
that several attempts at revising corporate strategies have failed to correct them
the subject and verb are "attempts... have failed to correct." And what have attempts failed to correct? The managerial blunders - represented in this clause by the pronoun "that." The pronoun "that" is the object of the clause.

If we use "them" at the end of the clause as well, then it's redundant. We've used two different to function as the same object. That's why we shouldn't use "them," and the correct answer is D.
Dear ceilidh,

1-Can you please shed light on the usage of 'so that' in choice A? Is it correct? I know that 'so that' could be used for clause of purpose or clause of consequence? could be not be a clause of consequence in choice A?

2- Is 'attempt at' idiomatic?

Thanks in advance for your help.
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