Hi Folks,
Can some one explain the difference between "Since" and "Because".
I have noticed that "since" is used in lieu of "because" by many of us. I think
"since" should be used only to signify an occurance of an event with respect to time. Eg. Since last night, I am not well.
What do these two words mean in the GMAT context?
Pls share your thoughts
thanks
-Vittal
"Since" vs "Because"
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I received a PM asking me to respond.
Yes, we often use "since" and "because" almost interchangeably nowadays. And, yes, this is wrong on the GMAT.
As you noted, "since" is specifically used as an indication of time. "Since 1996, the Internet has grown from X users to Y users."
"Because she was hungry, she ate all the pie."
It's not okay to say "Since she was hungry..." (at least, not on the GMAT). So if you see a split between "since" and "because" and it appears that they could both work, use "because." (You probably wouldn't make the mistake in the other direction - "Because 1996, the Internet has grown...")
Yes, we often use "since" and "because" almost interchangeably nowadays. And, yes, this is wrong on the GMAT.
As you noted, "since" is specifically used as an indication of time. "Since 1996, the Internet has grown from X users to Y users."
"Because she was hungry, she ate all the pie."
It's not okay to say "Since she was hungry..." (at least, not on the GMAT). So if you see a split between "since" and "because" and it appears that they could both work, use "because." (You probably wouldn't make the mistake in the other direction - "Because 1996, the Internet has grown...")
Please note: I do not use the Private Messaging system! I will not see any PMs that you send to me!!
Stacey Koprince
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Stacey Koprince
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Hi Stacey,Stacey Koprince wrote:I received a PM asking me to respond.
Yes, we often use "since" and "because" almost interchangeably nowadays. And, yes, this is wrong on the GMAT.
As you noted, "since" is specifically used as an indication of time. "Since 1996, the Internet has grown from X users to Y users."
"Because she was hungry, she ate all the pie."
It's not okay to say "Since she was hungry..." (at least, not on the GMAT). So if you see a split between "since" and "because" and it appears that they could both work, use "because." (You probably wouldn't make the mistake in the other direction - "Because 1996, the Internet has grown...")
Either I am misinterpreting you or is missing something here...
But it seems this rule is not followed in GMAT
Please see the link below:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/pro ... t5867.html
Kindly tell what I am missing here ?
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Interesting! I'd love confirmation that this one really did come from GMATPrep - I did some searching, but couldn't find any confirmation of the source. (People sometimes post things on our site under the GMATPrep folder when they don't know the source because they know we won't answer it if they don't cite the source...)
If you have seen this yourself in GMATPrep, please let me know!
This question in the link seems to be testing something slightly different (not just a straight "because vs. since" set-up). It's testing a particular idiom:
X was easy, because of A, B, and C.
X was easy, <since OR because> A, B, and C <caused something else to happen>.
Options A, B, and C don't do one of the above correctly, so we're stuck with D or E (and, therefore, stuck with "since").
If this is really GMATPrep, I'd say that they're loosening their restriction on "since" a bit, bringing it up to modern usage / times. Definitely worth knowing - if that's what's happening, then it's probably the case that they prefer "because" to "since" as long as everything else is correct, but we should choose "since" if the "because" options are all incorrect for some reason.
And, if this is a GMATPrep question, then I highly doubt they'll ever make you choose strictly between since and because (they don't here) - the issue is the construction of the rest of the sentence.
If you have seen this yourself in GMATPrep, please let me know!
This question in the link seems to be testing something slightly different (not just a straight "because vs. since" set-up). It's testing a particular idiom:
X was easy, because of A, B, and C.
X was easy, <since OR because> A, B, and C <caused something else to happen>.
Options A, B, and C don't do one of the above correctly, so we're stuck with D or E (and, therefore, stuck with "since").
If this is really GMATPrep, I'd say that they're loosening their restriction on "since" a bit, bringing it up to modern usage / times. Definitely worth knowing - if that's what's happening, then it's probably the case that they prefer "because" to "since" as long as everything else is correct, but we should choose "since" if the "because" options are all incorrect for some reason.
And, if this is a GMATPrep question, then I highly doubt they'll ever make you choose strictly between since and because (they don't here) - the issue is the construction of the rest of the sentence.
Please note: I do not use the Private Messaging system! I will not see any PMs that you send to me!!
Stacey Koprince
GMAT Instructor
Director of Online Community
Manhattan GMAT
Contributor to Beat The GMAT!
Learn more about me
Stacey Koprince
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Manhattan GMAT
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Hello Stacey,
I would like to confirm that this question did show up on the GMATPrep exam. I did get this question myself. Pretty challenging question...upper 700+ would you say?
quote="Stacey Koprince"]Interesting! I'd love confirmation that this one really did come from GMATPrep - I did some searching, but couldn't find any confirmation of the source. (People sometimes post things on our site under the GMATPrep folder when they don't know the source because they know we won't answer it if they don't cite the source...)
If you have seen this yourself in GMATPrep, please let me know!
This question in the link seems to be testing something slightly different (not just a straight "because vs. since" set-up). It's testing a particular idiom:
X was easy, because of A, B, and C.
X was easy, <since OR because> A, B, and C <caused something else to happen>.
Options A, B, and C don't do one of the above correctly, so we're stuck with D or E (and, therefore, stuck with "since").
If this is really GMATPrep, I'd say that they're loosening their restriction on "since" a bit, bringing it up to modern usage / times. Definitely worth knowing - if that's what's happening, then it's probably the case that they prefer "because" to "since" as long as everything else is correct, but we should choose "since" if the "because" options are all incorrect for some reason.
And, if this is a GMATPrep question, then I highly doubt they'll ever make you choose strictly between since and because (they don't here) - the issue is the construction of the rest of the sentence.[/quote]
I would like to confirm that this question did show up on the GMATPrep exam. I did get this question myself. Pretty challenging question...upper 700+ would you say?
quote="Stacey Koprince"]Interesting! I'd love confirmation that this one really did come from GMATPrep - I did some searching, but couldn't find any confirmation of the source. (People sometimes post things on our site under the GMATPrep folder when they don't know the source because they know we won't answer it if they don't cite the source...)
If you have seen this yourself in GMATPrep, please let me know!
This question in the link seems to be testing something slightly different (not just a straight "because vs. since" set-up). It's testing a particular idiom:
X was easy, because of A, B, and C.
X was easy, <since OR because> A, B, and C <caused something else to happen>.
Options A, B, and C don't do one of the above correctly, so we're stuck with D or E (and, therefore, stuck with "since").
If this is really GMATPrep, I'd say that they're loosening their restriction on "since" a bit, bringing it up to modern usage / times. Definitely worth knowing - if that's what's happening, then it's probably the case that they prefer "because" to "since" as long as everything else is correct, but we should choose "since" if the "because" options are all incorrect for some reason.
And, if this is a GMATPrep question, then I highly doubt they'll ever make you choose strictly between since and because (they don't here) - the issue is the construction of the rest of the sentence.[/quote]
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Referring to the GMAT Prep question, my approach was as follows :
There is a 2:3 split with option A and D using " reach for" instead of " reach of". So we rule out A and D. I ruled out C because of the use of " owing".
B would have been correct if not for the use of " and" before " putting". This option has " because of" to start with therefore I feel that the use of putting instead of put is correct. But the use of and rules this option out.
Remaining is E (correct answer)
Is my reasoning correct?
There is a 2:3 split with option A and D using " reach for" instead of " reach of". So we rule out A and D. I ruled out C because of the use of " owing".
B would have been correct if not for the use of " and" before " putting". This option has " because of" to start with therefore I feel that the use of putting instead of put is correct. But the use of and rules this option out.
Remaining is E (correct answer)
Is my reasoning correct?
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i feel that the answer E is wrong because "since" should be followed by a verb form of has/have........and in option E usage of verb form of has/have is not there
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@aspirant2011, I think you may be getting confused between 2 different usages of "since"-
1: since to express timing - this is when it should be followed by present perfect tense:
Since the launch of new website, we have seen rapid increase in the subscriptions.
2: Since to express reasoning - this is when there is no restriction on the verb tense.
Since he does not follow a balanced diet, even extensive exercise program does not help in weight reduction.
So you need to understand the intended meaning of the sentence to see whether "since" is used to express timing related meaning or reasoning and then use the rules governing verb tense accordingly.
In the light of above, ask yourself - what is the usage of "since" in the sentence in question.
Hope this helps.
1: since to express timing - this is when it should be followed by present perfect tense:
Since the launch of new website, we have seen rapid increase in the subscriptions.
2: Since to express reasoning - this is when there is no restriction on the verb tense.
Since he does not follow a balanced diet, even extensive exercise program does not help in weight reduction.
So you need to understand the intended meaning of the sentence to see whether "since" is used to express timing related meaning or reasoning and then use the rules governing verb tense accordingly.
In the light of above, ask yourself - what is the usage of "since" in the sentence in question.
Hope this helps.
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