Modifier problem

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Modifier problem

by ashg84 » Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:31 am
The normative model of strategic decision-making suggests that executives examine a firm's external environment and internal conditions, and in using the set objective criteria they drive from these analyses, can decide on a strategy.

a) Same
b) conditions, and they use the set objective criteria derived from these analyses in deciding
c) conditions, and, using the set objective criteria derived from these analyses, decide

Please suggest ...

Thanks
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by anuprajan5 » Sat Oct 06, 2012 11:02 am
Ash,

I would go with option [spoiler]B[/spoiler]

My rationale is as follows:

a. And separates 2 clauses - one dependent and the other independent. Incorrect.
b. It takes care of this issue. Now there are 2 independent clauses.
c. There is some ambiguity about the subject verb pair for verb decide.

Pls post the OA.

Regards
Anup
Last edited by anuprajan5 on Sat Oct 06, 2012 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

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by patanjali.purpose » Sat Oct 06, 2012 11:10 am
ashg84 wrote:The normative model of strategic decision-making suggests that executives examine a firm's external environment and internal conditions, and in using the set objective criteria they drive from these analyses, can decide on a strategy.

a) Same
b) conditions, and they use the set objective criteria derived from these analyses in deciding
c) conditions, and, using the set objective criteria derived from these analyses, decide

Please suggest ...

Thanks
Sentence intends to convey that MODEL suggests THAT Executive examine X and decide Y. Use of SUGGESTS indicates that we need to use SUBJUNCTIVE ...meaning verb in root form.

a) Many issues
(1) use of CAN DECIDE is wrong (root form is DECIDE);
(2) comma before and after AND makes the phrase AND...ANALYSES non-essential ...sentence becomes "Executive examine ..conditions can decide on a strategy". The two verbs are not properly connected

b) breaks the sentence into 2 independent clauses (MODEL suggests THAT Executive examine X ,and THEY USE ...). This suggests that THEY USE...is not suggested by the MODEL. If b had used THAT before THEY then this choice would have become viable option (eg MODEL suggests THAT Executive examine X , THAT and THEY USE ...)

c) OK - no issues with the AND - properly connects two verbs (MODEL suggests that Executive examine ..conditions AND ,...., DECIDE...). The phrase USING...ANALYSES acts as a modifiers (properly set-off with comma).

IMO C

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by anukrati » Sat Oct 06, 2012 12:44 pm
ashg84 wrote:The normative model of strategic decision-making suggests that executives examine a firm's external environment and internal conditions, and in using the set objective criteria they drive from these analyses, can decide on a strategy.

a) Same
b) conditions, and they use the set objective criteria derived from these analyses in deciding
c) conditions, and, using the set objective criteria derived from these analyses, decide

Please suggest ...

Thanks
Clearly there are two actions that are being suggested -
1) Examine
2) Decide
Since both the actions are separated by AND.
hence X AND Y parallelism should exist.
Therefore, B is incorrect because
examine is not parallel to they use.
A is also incorrect because
examine is not parallel to can decide.

C is correct as examine is parallel to decide.
Here using the set objective criteria derived from these analyses is correctly separated by comma stating it modifies the verb "decide"

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