Sentence Correction

Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last
month, leading to the declaration of an emergency in the country.
A. has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading
to the declaration of an emergency in the country
B. killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to the
declaration of an emergency in the country.
C. has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, which has lead
to the declaration of an emergency in the country.
D. had killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to the
declaration of an emergency in the country.
E. has been killing 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to
the declaring of an emergency in the country.

OA IS A and I agree.
My question: In each of the options, the subject who declared the emergency is missing. Is this ok?

vineeshp wrote:Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last
month, leading to the declaration of an emergency in the country.
A. has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading
to the declaration of an emergency in the country
B. killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to the
declaration of an emergency in the country.
C. has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, which has lead
to the declaration of an emergency in the country.
D. had killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to the
declaration of an emergency in the country.
E. has been killing 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to
the declaring of an emergency in the country.

OA IS A and I agree.
My question: In each of the options, the subject who declared the emergency is missing. Is this ok?

Yes, as "declaration" is a noun. Only verbs need subjects. Sentences, on the GMAT and elsewhere, can be (somewhat) incomplete in meaning, because they would exist as part of a bigger paragraph with more info, so you don't need to worry about EVERY logical hole being filled, just the ones that relate to SC rules like Comparisons and Pronouns -- and, of course, the rules of grammar. The only verbs here are "has been killing" (subject = "volcano") and "began" (subject = "it"). No other verbs exist to require subjects.

Hi SticklorForDetails,

I am confused between options A and B. Do we need 'has' as used in A? Isn't it apparent from "since it began erupting late last month" that this activity started last month and still going on?

I am confused. Please help.

Thanks.

SticklorForDetails wrote:

vineeshp wrote:Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last
month, leading to the declaration of an emergency in the country.
A. has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading
to the declaration of an emergency in the country
B. killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to the
declaration of an emergency in the country.
C. has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, which has lead
to the declaration of an emergency in the country.
D. had killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to the
declaration of an emergency in the country.
E. has been killing 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to
the declaring of an emergency in the country.

OA IS A and I agree.
My question: In each of the options, the subject who declared the emergency is missing. Is this ok?

Yes, as "declaration" is a noun. Only verbs need subjects. Sentences, on the GMAT and elsewhere, can be (somewhat) incomplete in meaning, because they would exist as part of a bigger paragraph with more info, so you don't need to worry about EVERY logical hole being filled, just the ones that relate to SC rules like Comparisons and Pronouns -- and, of course, the rules of grammar. The only verbs here are "has been killing" (subject = "volcano") and "began" (subject = "it"). No other verbs exist to require subjects.

Hi Sticklor, Whats the difference between A and E . A uses the present perfect and E uses present perfect progressive

mundasingh123 wrote:

SticklorForDetails wrote:

vineeshp wrote:Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last
month, leading to the declaration of an emergency in the country.
A. has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading
to the declaration of an emergency in the country
B. killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to the
declaration of an emergency in the country.
C. has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, which has lead
to the declaration of an emergency in the country.
D. had killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to the
declaration of an emergency in the country.
E. has been killing 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to
the declaring of an emergency in the country.

OA IS A and I agree.
My question: In each of the options, the subject who declared the emergency is missing. Is this ok?

Yes, as "declaration" is a noun. Only verbs need subjects. Sentences, on the GMAT and elsewhere, can be (somewhat) incomplete in meaning, because they would exist as part of a bigger paragraph with more info, so you don't need to worry about EVERY logical hole being filled, just the ones that relate to SC rules like Comparisons and Pronouns -- and, of course, the rules of grammar. The only verbs here are "has been killing" (subject = "volcano") and "began" (subject = "it"). No other verbs exist to require subjects.

Hi Sticklor, Whats the difference between A and E . A uses the present perfect and E uses present perfect progressive

E is awkward and it changes the intended meaning of the sentence...........sentence says since it began i.e time from which it began so what has it done not what is it doing

need720+ wrote:Hi SticklorForDetails,

I am confused between options A and B. Do we need 'has' as used in A? Isn't it apparent from "since it began erupting late last month" that this activity started last month and still going on?

I am confused. Please help.

Thanks.

with since you are supposed to use verb form of has/have, therefore B is wrong

aspirant2011 wrote:

mundasingh123 wrote:

SticklorForDetails wrote:

vineeshp wrote:Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last
month, leading to the declaration of an emergency in the country.
A. has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading
to the declaration of an emergency in the country
B. killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to the
declaration of an emergency in the country.
C. has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, which has lead
to the declaration of an emergency in the country.
D. had killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to the
declaration of an emergency in the country.
E. has been killing 191 people since it began erupting late last month, leading to
the declaring of an emergency in the country.

OA IS A and I agree.
My question: In each of the options, the subject who declared the emergency is missing. Is this ok?

Yes, as "declaration" is a noun. Only verbs need subjects. Sentences, on the GMAT and elsewhere, can be (somewhat) incomplete in meaning, because they would exist as part of a bigger paragraph with more info, so you don't need to worry about EVERY logical hole being filled, just the ones that relate to SC rules like Comparisons and Pronouns -- and, of course, the rules of grammar. The only verbs here are "has been killing" (subject = "volcano") and "began" (subject = "it"). No other verbs exist to require subjects.

Hi Sticklor, Whats the difference between A and E . A uses the present perfect and E uses present perfect progressive

E is awkward and it changes the intended meaning of the sentence...........sentence says since it began i.e time from which it began so what has it done not what is it doing

The use of Pres. Perf. Prog. implies that the action started in the past , continues into the present and into the future . The only reason for eliminating E is that The GMAT prefers simpler tenses

Is the answer 'A'??