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Pronoun - finding the correct antecedent

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Pronoun - finding the correct antecedent

by jerryragland » Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:19 am
Source - OG

While depressed property values can hurt some large investors, they are potentially devastating for homeowners, whose equity - in may cases representing a life's savings - can plunge or even disappear

I was thinking "they" was referring to large investors but the answer says "they" correctly refers to property values and hence the sentence is correct as is.

Can anyone please explain how to find the correct antecedent?

Thank you.

Jerry.
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by akhpad » Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:40 am
One basic tips but not hard and fast rule

The GMAT will usually tolerate pronoun ambiguity if
The context is obvious
The pronoun is parallel to the intended noun
The pronoun is not parallel to the other (wrong word) noun(s)


While depressed property values can hurt some large investors, they are potentially devastating for homeowners, whose equity - in may cases representing a life's savings - can plunge or even disappear


"they" is plural and "they (Subject) + Verb ...."

You should look for parallel to they (Subject) + Verb .... -> construction.
"depressed property values ' is the subject. right?

so "they" refers to "depressed property values "





But "whose " refers to "homeowners".
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