Makes vs make

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 189
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:29 am
Thanked: 5 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:750

Makes vs make

by sulabh » Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:21 am
Byron possessed powers of observation that would have made him a great anthropologist and that makes his letters as a group the rival of the best novels of the time.
(A) makes his letters as a group the rival of
(B) makes his letters as a group one to rival
(C) makes his letters a group rivaling
(D) make his letters as a group the rival of
(E) make his letters a group which is the rival of

OA is D.But I think it should be A.Because 'Byron possessed powers of observation' is a quality that 'makes' his letters ......

COMMENTS !!!

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon May 26, 2008 1:06 pm

by zura » Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:54 am
powers that make -
powers thas the quality that make his letters.....
yes byron wrote letters but his powers make his letters ....some kind special
Impossible is nothing

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 101
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 6:03 am
Thanked: 5 times

by gmatinjuly » Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:31 am
Would have indicates plural subject
Powers is plural
Bryams powers make is correct ..so eliminate A/B/C


Letters a group which is rival …letter is not a group eliminate E

D is apt ….

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:00 am

New to GMAT

by oldfatguy » Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:26 am
I am new to GMAT and just starting...

I think it is not about 'powers'. It is about 'observation' which is closer to 'that'. This eliminates last d&e. Among first only C is a clear choice.

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:58 pm

BharatDesu

by bharatdesu » Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:39 pm
OA is D...

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:58 pm

BeatTheGMAT

by bharatdesu » Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:40 pm
Yes..OA is D

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:55 pm
Location: Washinton DC

by Almostthere » Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:24 pm
Just a reminder. Saw a comment regarding "observation" as the subject and, therefore, makes i/o make as the verb.

A noun/pronoun/noun phrase/etc. that follow a preposition (of) can't be the subject of the sentence.
Knock it (GMAT) out the park

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:13 pm

by alpana_10 » Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:15 pm
Why can't it be (E)...i haven't understood.

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 83
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:08 am
Thanked: 2 times

by James_83 » Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:24 pm
Can anybody explain why answer E is wrong besides being wordy.

Legendary Member
Posts: 1404
Joined: Tue May 20, 2008 6:55 pm
Thanked: 18 times
Followed by:2 members

by tanviet » Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:58 pm
which source this come from

if d is correct, "make st as st" is correct. I do not understand, the idiom is "make st st" there is no "as"

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 32
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:11 pm
Location: AZ
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:680

by mooreliberty » Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:15 pm
Byron possessed powers of observation that would have made him a great anthropologist and that makes his letters as a group the rival of the best novels of the time.
(A) makes his letters as a group the rival of
(B) makes his letters as a group one to rival
(C) makes his letters a group rivaling
(D) make his letters as a group the rival of
(E) make his letters a group which is the rival of
James_83 wrote:Can anybody explain why answer E is wrong besides being wordy.
Make his letters "a group" vs. "as a group"
Using "a group" here actually means that Byron's powers manifests in the form of organization - where his power is the power to make his letters come together.
The "as" serves here as a preposition and takes the meaning "in the capacity of," an important word that defines the relationship between "his letters" and "a group."

"a group which"
Which refers to group, not letters or a group of letters because it must replace a noun. Which cannot replace a sentence or idea and is usually preceded by a comma.

"group which is the rival of"
This phrase presents a group as the rival to the best novels of the time.
The idea, of course, is that the "letters as a group" rival "the best novels of the time."

I don't know if this helps at all, but if this is off in any way, please let me know-- I'd rather swallow a little pride now and learn in the forum than on test day.
Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice; moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. - Barry Goldwater

(Inspired by Thomas Paine in The Rights of Man).