BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

SC question

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Legendary Member
Posts: 537
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:06 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 14 times
by frank1 » Sun Oct 24, 2010 5:50 am
The administration discussed whether the number of students studying European languages was likely to decline when the senior lecturer retired.

A. whether the number of students studying European languages was likely
B. whether the number of students studying European languages were likely
C. if the students studying European languages were likely
D. if the number of European language students were likely
E. whether the number of students studying European languages was liable

First give it a try
OA later
GMAT score is equally counted as your GPA and 78 clicks can change you life.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 307
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:52 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 36 times
GMAT Score:640

by limestone » Sun Oct 24, 2010 5:55 am
IMO: A

First, "the number of" requires a singular verb. Hence, eliminate B,C,D

Second, "likely" is prefered to "liable", thus eliminate E. Moreover, "liable" changes the meaning of the sentence.
"There is nothing either good or bad - but thinking makes it so" - Shakespeare.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 537
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:06 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 14 times

by frank1 » Sun Oct 24, 2010 6:01 am
Let me come to point
I have studied wheather is for choices and If is for condition

What is being discussed in the question?
Is it
choices or
a Condition ?
GMAT score is equally counted as your GPA and 78 clicks can change you life.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 991
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2010 6:19 amFollowed by: 24 members
Location: Bangalore, India
Thanked: 146 times

by shovan85 » Sun Oct 24, 2010 6:57 am
frank1 wrote:Let me come to point
I have studied wheather is for choices and If is for condition

What is being discussed in the question?
Is it
choices or
a Condition ?
OK but what is the condition here... When Lecture retired, then student decline.
If is used for Condition but the decline of students is a kind of outcome which was likely to happen when lecturer retired.
Whether is better here.

IMO A
If the problem is Easy Respect it, if the problem is tough Attack it
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1460
Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2009 1:28 amFollowed by: 7 members
Thanked: 135 times

by selango » Sun Oct 24, 2010 7:22 am
'If' is used to introduce a conditional idea or an idea that has just one possibility whereas 'Whether' is used to introduce alternative possibilities, usually with 'or not' implied or explicitly stated in the sentence.

Here the alternative possibilities are used.

Whether the number of students was likely to decline or not.

Hope this clarify!!
--Anand--
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 641
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:07 pmFollowed by: 45 members
Location: Madison, WI
Thanked: 162 times
GMAT Score:760

by Jim@Grockit » Sun Oct 24, 2010 4:45 pm
selango wrote:'If' is used to introduce a conditional idea or an idea that has just one possibility whereas 'Whether' is used to introduce alternative possibilities, usually with 'or not' implied or explicitly stated in the sentence.

Here the alternative possibilities are used.

Whether the number of students was likely to decline or not.

Hope this clarify!!
Expect "if" to appear only with a "then" clause; even if the "then" is not stated, it will be clear where it could be inserted.

"Whether . . . or not" is very unlikely to appear on the GMAT with "or not", as the word "whether" already means "which of the two" (i.e. which of the two choices). Adding two words that are completely unnecessary is contrary to GMAT principles. There is nothing even remotely incorrect about it in real life, however, and people use it all the time.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1