OG Verbal Review Second edition - SC Question 3 - The Beat The GMAT Forum

OG Verbal Review Second edition - SC Question 3

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Tega1984: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 51; Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:47 am; Thanked: 2 times; GMAT Score:560

by Tega1984 » Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:44 am

However much United states voters may agree that there is waste in government and that the government as a whole spends beyond its means, it is difficult to find broad support for a movement toward a minimal state.

The underlined portion is correct, but I really don't get it. ''However much'' sounds awkward to me.
Can anyone help me out wiht this one?

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:44 am

Frankenstein: Legendary Member; Posts: 1448; Joined: Tue May 17, 2011 9:55 amFollowed by: 53 members; Location: India; Thanked: 375 times

by Frankenstein » Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:11 am

Hi,
It is idiomatically correct. It is better if you post the other options as well so that we can discuss why this is the best answer of the options. Moreover, we cannot simply change the original sentence unless and until it is really bad.

Cheers!

Things are not what they appear to be... nor are they otherwise

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sivaelectric: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 439; Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:32 amFollowed by: 28 members; Location: India; Thanked: 34 times

by sivaelectric » Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:17 am

Hey frankenstein, even I felt kind of weird with "However much". Can you let me know some sources where I can have a list of idioms and phrases that appear on SC

Thanks

If I am wrong correct me

, If my post helped let me know by clicking the Thanks button

.

Chitra Sivasankar Arunagiri

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atulmangal: Legendary Member; Posts: 1112; Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:16 amFollowed by: 49 members; Thanked: 77 times

by atulmangal » Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:25 am

Hey guys, My 2 cents:

However much United states voters may agree that there is waste in government and that the government as a whole spends beyond its means, it is difficult to find broad support for a movement toward a minimal state.

The part in blue is a Dependent clause and indicating contrast, while the part in green is Independent clause.

See, its almost same as we use Although X...., Y construction

Just like we never use BUT with Although because that gonna be redundant why?? because ALthough already indicates contrast or in simpler words includes a BUT in it...similarly However.... is dependent clause initiating contrast.

Last edited by atulmangal on Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:47 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Tega1984: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 51; Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:47 am; Thanked: 2 times; GMAT Score:560

by Tega1984 » Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:36 am

O.K. The problem I'm having here is that I don't understand the meaning of ''however much''. Does it mean something like ''it does not matter how much they agree''? It also sounds wierd

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Ashley@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 199; Joined: Tue May 17, 2011 6:06 amFollowed by: 121 members; Location: Cambridge, MA; Thanked: 192 times; GMAT Score:780

by Ashley@VeritasPrep » Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:37 am

You can think of the "however much" as "no matter how much" or "to whatever extent" or "to however great an extent." It's similar to what you suggest ("it does not matter how much"), with maybe a tiny nuanced difference. That is that the phrase doesn't suggest a neutral "we don't care to what extent voters agree," but rather an "EVEN IF all U.S. voters agree that..., it is STILL difficult..." As atulmangal says, there's the sense of contrast in this construction.

Ashley Newman-Owens
GMAT Instructor
Veritas Prep

Post helpful? Mosey your cursor on over to that Thank button and click, please! I will bake you an imaginary cake.

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Tega1984: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 51; Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:47 am; Thanked: 2 times; GMAT Score:560

by Tega1984 » Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:50 am

Thanks Ashley!"no matter how much","to whatever extent ''- that's what I meant by ''it does not matter how much they agree''? Now everything's clear for me.

Ashley@VeritasPrep wrote:You can think of the "however much" as "no matter how much" or "to whatever extent" or "to however great an extent." It's similar to what you suggest ("it does not matter how much"), with maybe a tiny nuanced difference. That is that the phrase doesn't suggest a neutral "we don't care to what extent voters agree," but rather an "EVEN IF all U.S. voters agree that..., it is STILL difficult..." As atulmangal says, there's the sense of contrast in this construction.

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