SC - Distinguish

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SC - Distinguish

by confuse mind » Thu May 26, 2011 9:50 am
Can someone pls explain me the correct GMAT usage for -
1.Distinguish 'X' from 'Y'
2.Distinguish 'X' with 'Y'
3.Distinguish 'X' and 'Y'
4.Distinguish between 'X' and 'Y'
5.Distinguish 'X' to 'Y'
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by amar66 » Thu May 26, 2011 12:46 pm
distinguish X from Y: X and Y are two similar objects
Example: distinguish original from fake.

distinguish between X and Y: X and Y are distinct
Example: distinguish between red and green colors.

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by confuse mind » Thu May 26, 2011 7:03 pm
amar66 wrote:distinguish X from Y: X and Y are two similar objects
Example: distinguish original from fake.

distinguish between X and Y: X and Y are distinct
Example: distinguish between red and green colors.
Can you please give your opinion about other constructions also which I mentioned in my previous post

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by confuse mind » Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:44 am
amar66 wrote:distinguish X from Y: X and Y are two similar objects
Example: distinguish original from fake.

distinguish between X and Y: X and Y are distinct
Example: distinguish between red and green colors.
In his research paper, Dr. Frosh, medical director of the Payne Whitney Clinic, distinguishes mood swings, which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis.
(A) mood swings, which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(B) mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(C) between mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(D) between mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(E) genuine manic-depressive psychosis and mood swings, which may be violent
ans-'c'
Here how can we find that objects are similar or distinct..
As per my understanding genuine in the sentence is giving the sense that 'mood swings and manic-depressive psychosis' might be similar objects .
can anyone pls resolve my doubt..

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by Ozlemg » Sun Jun 05, 2011 1:04 pm
The idiomatic usage is distinguish between A And B
So we can only stay with B and C, and other choices can be eliminated due to the unidiomatic usage of distinguish.

It is nod D, because it lacks "and" & "perhaps" is less preferred than "may be" in GMAT.
Also the sentence fragment btwn commas sounds uncompleted without which

Hope it is clear.
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by confuse mind » Sun Jun 05, 2011 6:04 pm
I am confused between A and C. Both of these correct idiomatic uses and here it seems to be a case of distinguishing something fake from original and thus I want to go with A but the correct answer is C.

So, my question is, how the above sentence becomes a valid case from 'distinguish between X and Y' and not 'distinguish X from Y' form.

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by Ozlemg » Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:29 am
@confuse mind

(A) mood swings, which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis

Why not A?
Not A because, above mentioned usage is not preferred style for GMAT & test makers. You should be very careful when see such kind of usages and try to stay away with the answers including them..
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by aspirant2011 » Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:06 am
correct idiom is

distinguishes between x and y
distinguish x from y

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by sameerballani » Mon Jun 06, 2011 11:03 am
confuse mind wrote:
amar66 wrote:distinguish X from Y: X and Y are two similar objects
Example: distinguish original from fake.

distinguish between X and Y: X and Y are distinct
Example: distinguish between red and green colors.
In his research paper, Dr. Frosh, medical director of the Payne Whitney Clinic, distinguishes mood swings, which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis.
(A) mood swings, which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis What's the antecedent of THEIR?
(B) mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis - wrong idiom
(C) between mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis
(D) between mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis wrong idiom
(E) genuine manic-depressive psychosis and mood swings, which may be violent wrong idiom
ans-'c'
Here how can we find that objects are similar or distinct..
As per my understanding genuine in the sentence is giving the sense that 'mood swings and manic-depressive psychosis' might be similar objects .
can anyone pls resolve my doubt..
I hope it helps
Thanks

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