A different variety of giant tortoise can be found on every island in the Galapagos, each with its own style of oversized dome and comically scrawny neck.
A each with its own style of oversized dome and comically scrawny neck
B each with their own styles of oversized domes and comically scrawny necks
C each having their own style of oversized dome and comically scrawny neck
D all having their own styles of oversized domes and comically scrawny necks
E all with their own style of oversized dome and comically scrawny neck
my doubt 1 : can "each" refer to "different variety"
doubt 2: in a construction "A different variety of giant tortoise" is the subject "A different variety" .in other words do we need to ignore the "of construction" in such construction? i am asking this because in a construction "a large proportion of young people" we do consider the "of construction" to decide the singularity and plurality of the construction
thanks and regards
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A different variety of giant tortoise can
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aditya8062
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Hi aditya8062,
By focusing on the word "each", you bring up an interesting point. To answer your initial question: "yes", the word "each" can refer to "A different variety."
Consider the following options...
A different variety....
vs.
Many different varieties.....
The first option is singular, the second option is plural. "Each" refers to a singular noun, so "each" can refer to "a different variety of giant tortoise."
When I first came across the word "each", it wasn't immediately clear whether the word was referring to "a...variety of...tortoise" or an "island." Once you read past the word "each", you'll see a description for what is obviously a tortoise. Since "a....variety of...tortoise" is singular, you can eliminate all 4 wrong answers (they all use a plural pronoun).
Final Answer: A
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Rich
By focusing on the word "each", you bring up an interesting point. To answer your initial question: "yes", the word "each" can refer to "A different variety."
Consider the following options...
A different variety....
vs.
Many different varieties.....
The first option is singular, the second option is plural. "Each" refers to a singular noun, so "each" can refer to "a different variety of giant tortoise."
When I first came across the word "each", it wasn't immediately clear whether the word was referring to "a...variety of...tortoise" or an "island." Once you read past the word "each", you'll see a description for what is obviously a tortoise. Since "a....variety of...tortoise" is singular, you can eliminate all 4 wrong answers (they all use a plural pronoun).
Final Answer: A
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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GMATGuruNY
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On the GMAT, a COMMA + each modifier must serve to refer to the NEAREST PRECEDING PLURAL NOUN.
An OA from GMAC:
Deserts are inhabited by several distinct animal SPECIES, EACH with its own method of adapting to long periods of moisture shortage.
Here, COMMA + each serves to refers to species, the nearest preceding plural noun.
A: A different variety of giant tortoise can be found on every island in the Galapagos, each with its own style of oversized dome and comically scrawny neck.
Here, each must serve to refer to the Galapagos (the nearest preceding plural noun).
Conveyed meaning:
each [Galapago] with its own style of oversized dome and comically scrawny neck.
The conveyed meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate A.
Ignore the SC above.
It does not have a correct answer.
But a COMMA + each modifier works differently.
A COMMA + each modifier must serve to refer to the nearest preceding PLURAL noun.
An OA from GMAC:
Deserts are inhabited by several distinct animal SPECIES, EACH with its own method of adapting to long periods of moisture shortage.
Here, COMMA + each serves to refers to species, the nearest preceding plural noun.
A: A different variety of giant tortoise can be found on every island in the Galapagos, each with its own style of oversized dome and comically scrawny neck.
Here, each must serve to refer to the Galapagos (the nearest preceding plural noun).
Conveyed meaning:
each [Galapago] with its own style of oversized dome and comically scrawny neck.
The conveyed meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate A.
Ignore the SC above.
It does not have a correct answer.
In the construction each + NOUN -- each man, each country, each product, etc. -- the noun that follows each must be singular.[email protected] wrote:To answer your initial question: "yes", the word "each" can refer to "A different variety."
Consider the following options...
A different variety....
vs.
Many different varieties.....
The first option is singular, the second option is plural. "Each" refers to a singular noun, so "each" can refer to "a different variety of giant tortoise."
But a COMMA + each modifier works differently.
A COMMA + each modifier must serve to refer to the nearest preceding PLURAL noun.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Wed Jun 24, 2015 2:58 am, edited 2 times in total.
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aditya8062
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thanks Mitch
please clarify my second doubt also
Doubt 2: in a construction "A different variety of giant tortoise" is the subject "A different variety" .in other words do we need to ignore the "of construction" in such construction? i am asking this because in a construction "a large proportion of young people" we do consider the "of construction" to decide the singularity and plurality of the construction
Thanks and Regards
This is gem of a statement. million thanks for this informationOn the GMAT, a COMMA + each modifier must serve to refer to the NEAREST PRECEDING PLURAL NOUN.
please clarify my second doubt also
Doubt 2: in a construction "A different variety of giant tortoise" is the subject "A different variety" .in other words do we need to ignore the "of construction" in such construction? i am asking this because in a construction "a large proportion of young people" we do consider the "of construction" to decide the singularity and plurality of the construction
Thanks and Regards
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GMATGuruNY
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Generally, a variety of + PLURAL NOUN is treated as plural:aditya8062 wrote:in other words do we need to ignore the "of construction" in such construction? i am asking this because in a construction "a large proportion of young people" we do consider the "of construction" to decide the singularity and plurality of the construction
A variety of reasons WERE given.
Conveyed meaning:
VARIOUS reasons were given.
To my knowledge, no official SC has tested this issue.
Apart from this one exception, variety is considered singular.
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aflaam
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Different giant tortoises can be found on every island in the Galapagos, each with its own style of oversized dome and comically scrawny neck.GMATGuruNY wrote:
Generally, a variety of + PLURAL NOUN is treated as plural:
A variety of reasons WERE given.
Conveyed meaning:
VARIOUS reasons were given.
To my knowledge, no official SC has tested this issue.
Apart from this one exception, variety is considered singular.
Is it correct now?
Best,
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Here, COMMA + each seems to refer to Galapagos (the nearest preceding plural noun), conveying the following meaning:aflaam wrote:Different giant tortoises can be found on every island in the Galapagos, each with its own style of oversized dome and comically scrawny neck.
Is it correct now?
Best,
Different giant tortoises can be found on every island in the Galapagos, each Galapagos with its own style of oversized dome and comically scrawny neck.
Since this meaning is nonsensical, the revision above is not viable.
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I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
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As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
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