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Plural

by yellowho » Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:57 pm
The functional units of all circuits underlying the nervous system are neurons, each of them has highly branched projections extending from a round hub located in the center of the neuron called the somatic bulb.


(A) them has highly branched projections extending from the round hub located in the center of the neuron called the somatic bulb

(B) them that have highly branched projections that extend from a round hub located in the center of the neuron, which is called the somatic bulb

(C) which has highly branched projections extending from the round hub, called the somatic bulb, located in the center of the neuron correct

(D) which having branched projections that extend from a round hub, which is called the somatic bulb, located in the center of the neuron

(E) which have highly branched projections that are extending from a round hub located in the center of the neuron called the somatic bulb your answer


Here since "Each" is AFTER the subject (which is plural) should each be plural as well? OA suggests that its singular.
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by Superduperstudent » Wed Feb 16, 2011 8:11 am
Hi Yellowho,

"Each" goes with a singular verb. It is treated as a singular pronoun, even though it refers to more than one item. It's kind of like "team" or "army". They both refer to more than one person, but both go with singular verbs.

Or think of it like this: if you add in the word that "each" refers to, you get a phrase like this: "each neuron has highly branched...." See? Singular neuron with a singular verb.

If you are willing to take this one step further, you can see that I've used "both refer" and "both go" above. I'm referring to "both wordS" (plural), so I need to use a plural verb!

Hope this helps!
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by yellowho » Thu Feb 17, 2011 6:32 pm
Thanks. Yeah I think each is singular too except after the subject. I think thats the rule. I read that in many places thats why I am confused about this problem.


Ex: They are each good students. (each is after they, which is the subject and is plural).


[quote="Superduperstudent"]Hi Yellowho,

"Each" goes with a singular verb. It is treated as a singular pronoun, even though it refers to more than one item. It's kind of like "team" or "army". They both refer to more than one person, but both go with singular verbs.

Or think of it like this: if you add in the word that "each" refers to, you get a phrase like this: "each neuron has highly branched...." See? Singular neuron with a singular verb.

If you are willing to take this one step further, you can see that I've used "both refer" and "both go" above. I'm referring to "both wordS" (plural), so I need to use a plural verb!

Hope this helps![/quote]
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by tetura84 » Thu Feb 17, 2011 9:55 pm
is the answer A
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by ankurie » Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:04 pm
I think the answer is between C and D

PLease explain
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by AIM GMAT » Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:36 pm
IMO A .

Whats the OA ?

Singular options are only A and C .

(A) them has highly branched projections extending from the round hub located in the center of the neuron called the somatic bulb

(B) them that have highly branched projections that extend from a round hub located in the center of the neuron, which is called the somatic bulb

(C) which has highly branched projections extending from the round hub, called the somatic bulb, located in the center of the neuron correct

(D) which having branched projections that extend from a round hub, which is called the somatic bulb, located in the center of the neuron

(E) which have highly branched projections that are extending from a round hub located in the center of the neuron called the somatic bulb your answer
Thanks & Regards,
AIM GMAT
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by tetura84 » Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:06 am
on a second thought, I think the answer is C
called the somatic bulb is used correctly as an appositive in C.
round hub is called as the somatic bulb.
In A, it seems like neuron is called the somatic bulb.
But, again here we need outside knowledge, don't we?
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by Superduperstudent » Sun Feb 20, 2011 11:29 am
The answer is C.

Because of the plural / singular issue addressed above, answers B, D, and E can immediately be excluded. A and C remain. Answer A is only problematic because "each of them has" would be the beginning of a main clause. For that to work grammatically, the two main clauses would need to be joined by a semicolon ( ; ) or by a coordinating conjunction such as "and." Or they could of course be split into two sentences. Answer "A" does not include a conjunction, semicolon, or separation into two sentences, so it's out.

C remains.

C is also correct because of "which." "Each of which has..." is a correct beginning of a subordinate or dependent clause. It depends on information provided in the previous portion, cannot be a sentence on its own, and provides more information about whatever the main clause is about. In this case, the dependent part of the sentence tells us more about the neurons mentioned in the main clause.

If you'd like to improve your GMAT verbal score, please contact me.
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by Jim@Grockit » Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:34 am
The more verb forms you see in an SC problem, the more suspicious you should be that A) they aren't parallel, and B) some answer choices may be comma splices.
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by Jim@Grockit » Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:06 pm
Also, yellowho asked me about "each" -- terrible as this is for those struggling to get a handle on SC, "each" can also be used adverbially, in a way similar to (and with the same definition as) "apiece" (These apples are one dollar each). Suspect this usage of "each" when the sentence already has a subject.

So yes, here, "each" is singular, as it always is when it is a pronoun (Each was victorious in his own way), rather than an adjective (Each cake is lovingly decorated) or an adverb (above). I mean, I guess it's singular when it's an adjective too, but English doesn't mark its adjectives singular/plural.
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by AIM GMAT » Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:08 pm
yellowho can we have the OA ?
Thanks & Regards,
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