Sentence Correction

The Parthenon is larger than usual for a doric temple,with eight coloums on the short sides and seventeen on the long ones rather than the typical three and sixteen.

A. usual
B. is usual
C. has been usual
D. one usually is
E. it is usual

Please provide explanations.

IMO B

'usual' is used when something is compared to itself. In this case, Parthenon is compared to a doric temple, hence 'is usual' fits the bill.

Can you please explain why E is wrong.

karanrulz4ever wrote:IMO B

'usual' is used when something is compared to itself. In this case, Parthenon is compared to a doric temple, hence 'is usual' fits the bill.

Choice E uses the pronoun "it" without a valid antecedent.

What is the official answer?

Just putting in my post to receive a email notification on update!

I believe on choice A, should be fine as long as ''is usual'' seems wrong for me in this case. Experts please clarify if the question taken from a valid resource?

shekhar.kataria wrote:The Parthenon is larger than usual for a doric temple,with eight coloums on the short sides and seventeen on the long ones rather than the typical three and sixteen.

A. usual
B. is usual
C. has been usual
D. one usually is
E. it is usual

Please provide explanations.

In D, one lacks a clear antecedent. Eliminate D.

In E, it lacks a clear antecedent. Eliminate E.

In C, there is no reason to change from the present tense of the non-underlined verb (is) to the present perfect tense (has been). All of the verbs should be in the same tense unless a change in tense is needed. Eliminate C.

In A, The Parthenon is larger than usual means The Parthenon is larger than it usually is. This wording does not convey the intended meaning: the Parthenon does not change in size from day to day. Eliminate A.

The correct answer is B.

B makes it clear that the size of the Parthenon is being compared to what IS usual for a Doric temple.

shekhar.kataria wrote:The Parthenon is larger than usual for a doric temple,with eight coloums on the short sides and seventeen on the long ones rather than the typical three and sixteen.

A. usual
B. is usual
C. has been usual
D. one usually is
E. it is usual

Please provide explanations.

Read this
https://gmat-grammar.blocked/

GMATGuruNY wrote:

shekhar.kataria wrote:The Parthenon is larger than usual for a doric temple,with eight coloums on the short sides and seventeen on the long ones rather than the typical three and sixteen.

A. usual
B. is usual
C. has been usual
D. one usually is
E. it is usual

Please provide explanations.

In D, one lacks a clear antecedent. Eliminate D.

In E, it lacks a clear antecedent. Eliminate E.

In C, there is no reason to change from the present tense of the non-underlined verb (is) to the present perfect tense (has been). All of the verbs should be in the same tense unless a change in tense is needed. Eliminate C.

In A, The Parthenon is larger than usual means The Parthenon is larger than it usually is. This wording does not convey the intended meaning: the Parthenon does not change in size from day to day. Eliminate A.

The correct answer is B.

B makes it clear that the size of the Parthenon is being compared to what IS usual for a Doric temple.

But Mitch In E , it is used as an expletive or a space holder to indicate that a subject is about to follow

mundasingh123 wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

shekhar.kataria wrote:The Parthenon is larger than usual for a doric temple,with eight coloums on the short sides and seventeen on the long ones rather than the typical three and sixteen.

A. usual
B. is usual
C. has been usual
D. one usually is
E. it is usual

Please provide explanations.

In D, one lacks a clear antecedent. Eliminate D.

In E, it lacks a clear antecedent. Eliminate E.

In C, there is no reason to change from the present tense of the non-underlined verb (is) to the present perfect tense (has been). All of the verbs should be in the same tense unless a change in tense is needed. Eliminate C.

In A, The Parthenon is larger than usual means The Parthenon is larger than it usually is. This wording does not convey the intended meaning: the Parthenon does not change in size from day to day. Eliminate A.

The correct answer is B.

B makes it clear that the size of the Parthenon is being compared to what IS usual for a Doric temple.

But Mitch In E , it is used as an expletive or a space holder to indicate that a subject is about to follow

The Parthenon is larger than it is implies that the Parthenon is being compared to it. There is no reason to use an expletive in this sort of comparison. If anything, we OMIT words in a comparison; we don't add extra words. Thus, a reader will assume that it refers to some unknown entity. Since E contains a pronoun whose function is unclear and A avoids this issue, we should eliminate E.

Good learning here.