If...Then Rule Break??

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:22 pm

If...Then Rule Break??

by venjam » Sun Sep 23, 2012 1:55 pm
Hi all,

Below is a SC Question

Rising inventories, when unaccompanied correspondingly by increases in sales, can lead to production cutbacks that would hamper economic growth.
(A) when unaccompanied correspondingly by increases in sales, can lead
(B) when not accompanied by corresponding increases in sales, possibly leads
(C) when they were unaccompanied by corresponding sales increases, can lead
(D) if not accompanied by correspondingly increased sales, possibly leads
(E) if not accompanied by corresponding increases in sales, can lead

Though this question was discussed earlier several times i have a question reg applying if..then rule

This is what i had i mind

Simple Present tense --- "will" +verb
Simple Past tense --- "would/could"+ verb
Future Tense --- "would/could+ have" + Past Participle

I was expecting "will" in the correct answer (E)

Could you please clarify how "can" fits into this strategy

Thanks
Source: — Sentence Correction |

User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 2279
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:51 am
Location: New York
Thanked: 660 times
Followed by:266 members
GMAT Score:770

by Jim@StratusPrep » Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:17 pm
Will is actually the future tense. This is why it is not needed here..
GMAT Answers provides a world class adaptive learning platform.
-- Push button course navigation to simplify planning
-- Daily assignments to fit your exam timeline
-- Organized review that is tailored based on your abiility
-- 1,000s of unique GMAT questions
-- 100s of handwritten 'digital flip books' for OG questions
-- 100% Free Trial and less than $20 per month after.
-- Free GMAT Quantitative Review

Image

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 434
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:42 pm
Location: Bangalore, India
Thanked: 91 times
Followed by:46 members

by EducationAisle » Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:35 am
The presence of "will" would actually have changed the meaning of the original sentence.

"will" has an element of certainty associated with it, while "can" means may or may not.
Ashish
MBA - ISB, GMAT - 99th Percentile
GMAT Faculty @ EducationAisle
www.EducationAisle.com

Sentence Correction Nirvana available at:

a) Amazon: Sentence Correction Nirvana

b) Flipkart: Sentence Correction Nirvana

Now! Preview the entire Grammar Section of Sentence Correction Nirvana at pothi

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:12 pm
Thanked: 7 times

by henryjejo » Mon Sep 24, 2012 6:21 pm
Hi venjam, If we are expressing a general truth, we need to use simple present. The "IF" rules cannot be applied when expressing general truth.

• Page 1 of 1