help wit this SC:A new generation of

Expert replies

ritish: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 34; Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 6:04 pm

by ritish » Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:50 am

A new generation of sophisticated copy machines,capable of unprecedented detail and accuracy, are prompting the development of more complex currency designs to prevent counterfeiting.

a.sophisticated copy machines,capable of unprecedented detail and accuracy, are

b.sophisticated copy machines,capable for unprecedented detail and accuracy, is

c.sophisticated copy machines,capable of unprecedented detail and accuracy, is

d.sophisticated copy machines,capable for unprecedented detail and accuracy, are

e.sophisticated copy machines that are,capable of unprecedented detail and accuracy, are

can someone explain me the solution to this question...?

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:50 am

chintanjadwani: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 43; Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:12 am; Thanked: 3 times; GMAT Score:730

by chintanjadwani » Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:27 am

First of able ''capable for'' is unidiomatic.. so rule out B D and E,,

moreover the for the subject verb agreement , the subject ''generation'' i.e. is singular has to the agree with the singular verb 'is' ...so ans is C..

ritish: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 34; Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 6:04 pm

by ritish » Sun Apr 19, 2009 3:34 am

how exactly do u identify the subject....?

In the above question i thought copy machines was the subject....!!!

is there any hard and fast rule...?

ritish: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 34; Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 6:04 pm

by ritish » Sun Apr 19, 2009 3:42 am

usually i follow this rule

"In order to distinguish the subject of your sentence, ask "Who?" or "What?" in front of the verb"

when i applied the strategy for the above question

what prompted the development of more coplex currency designs..?

ans:a new generation of sophisticated copy machines...

so hw do u decide the exact subject...?

mals24: Legendary Member; Posts: 683; Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:58 pmFollowed by: 2 members; Location: Dubai; Thanked: 73 times

by mals24 » Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:01 am

ritish wrote:usually i follow this rule

"In order to distinguish the subject of your sentence, ask "Who?" or "What?" in front of the verb"

when i applied the strategy for the above question

what prompted the development of more coplex currency designs..?

ans:a new generation of sophisticated copy machines...

so hw do u decide the exact subject...?

Your strategy to ask the question 'who' or 'what' is performing the action of the main verb is fine.

Just remember while considering the subject you ignore the middleman, that is your prepositional phrases (phrases that start with 'of' mainly)

So in this sentence your subject is new generation.

'of sophisticated copy machines' is considered a middleman (since it is a prepositional phrase) and hence this phrase can be ignored.

mikeCoolBoy: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 119; Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:16 pm; Thanked: 9 times; GMAT Score:730

by mikeCoolBoy » Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:09 am

IMO A

from my point of view the subject is copy machines like in "a number of copy machines ..." .

Can an expert clarify this?

ritish: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 34; Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 6:04 pm

by ritish » Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:47 am

thanks mals24...

is this a universal rule or jus works in a few cases...?

mikeCoolBoy: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 119; Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:16 pm; Thanked: 9 times; GMAT Score:730

by mikeCoolBoy » Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:37 am

thank you mals24, I hadn't read your answer before posting mine.

mals24: Legendary Member; Posts: 683; Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:58 pmFollowed by: 2 members; Location: Dubai; Thanked: 73 times

by mals24 » Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:36 am

Your welcome

Yup Ritish it is a general rule. You can find it in the Manhattan SC guide as well (or any other GMAT SC guide under the subject-verb agreeement section). So you can safely use it.

Basically in sentence correction questions, it is usually better to get rid of the middleman, i.e. your prepositional phrases (mainly the ones beginning with 'of') and then analyze the sentence. It'll be easier to find the subject and other major grammatical errors in this way.

lav: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 116; Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:06 am; Thanked: 6 times

by lav » Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:07 pm

My ans is C
One can easily be tricked to belive machines is subject but by MGMAT rules it is "generation"
@ ritish .. whats the OA ? Whats the source of ques ?

Kid in Verbal

ritish: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 34; Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 6:04 pm

by ritish » Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:24 pm

The question is from Kaplan Gmat verbal work...exercise 1

lav: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 116; Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:06 am; Thanked: 6 times

by lav » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:14 am

whats the Original ans posted in book ?

Kid in Verbal

ritish: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 34; Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 6:04 pm

by ritish » Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:32 am

@ lav

The answer in the book c

GMAT Course Reviews

563 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (563 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review