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Non count noun

by karthikpandian19 » Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:46 am
Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot fewer square footage, as its residents know well.

A.Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot fewer square footage, as its residents know well
B.Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, its residents know well that the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot less square footage
C.As its residents know well, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot fewer square footage, seeing as it was built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class
D.As its residents know well, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot less square footage, seeing as it was built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class
E.Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot less square footage, as its residents know well

[spoiler]
"E" is the credited response as
"Square footage" is a non-count noun and will use "less" rather than "fewer." The correct answer will address this without introducing new errors. [/spoiler]

Can anyone explain?
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by MakeUrTimeCount » Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:23 am
less vs fewer
- Use fewer if you're referring to people or things in the plural
- Use less when you're referring to something that can't be counted or doesn't have a plural

Here "square footage" does not refer to plural so use less. So option A and C are out.

"Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class,X"
Here 'X' should be the noun referred by proceeding phrase. So option B is out.

Out of option D and E.
In 'D', seeing as it is referring to square footage so D is out.

E is the correct one.
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by sam2304 » Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:06 am
IMO E.

Same reason as explained by Makeurtimecount.
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by sk8legend408 » Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:43 am
It is easy to get down to D and E. From there it gets tough.

However in E it is clear that its residents is clearly referring to the building because it cannot be referring to anything else. Whereas in D, as makeurtimecount pointed out, it is difficult to clearly know what it refers to.

Hope that helps.
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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:52 am
karthikpandian19 wrote:Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot fewer square footage, as its residents know well.

A.Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot fewer square footage, as its residents know well
B.Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, its residents know well that the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot less square footage
C.As its residents know well, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot fewer square footage, seeing as it was built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class
D.As its residents know well, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot less square footage, seeing as it was built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class
E.Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot less square footage, as its residents know well

[spoiler]
"E" is the credited response as
"Square footage" is a non-count noun and will use "less" rather than "fewer." The correct answer will address this without introducing new errors. [/spoiler]

Can anyone explain?
In A and C, fewer cannot refer to footage, which is non-countable. Eliminate A and C.

In B, built incorrectly modifies residents. Eliminate B.

COMMA + VERBing should refer to the subject of the preceding clause.
In D, seeing should refer to the Baskerville building -- the subject of the preceding clause -- but clearly the building was not seeing.
While seeing as is an idiom used in conversational English, it almost certainly is not an idiom acceptable to the GMAT writers.
Eliminate D.

I'm skeptical of E. The placement of but a lot less square footage is troubling. The GMAT likely would say: the Baskerville building has a great deal more character but a lot less square footage. Also, it's not crystal clear what is being modified by as its residents know well and what exactly the residents know well. What is the source of this question?
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by karthikpandian19 » Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:46 am
@GMATGuruNY

This question is from Grockit
GMATGuruNY wrote:
karthikpandian19 wrote:Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot fewer square footage, as its residents know well.

A.Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot fewer square footage, as its residents know well
B.Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, its residents know well that the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot less square footage
C.As its residents know well, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot fewer square footage, seeing as it was built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class
D.As its residents know well, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot less square footage, seeing as it was built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class
E.Built in 1913 as housing for the city's working class, the Baskerville building has a great deal more character than most modern buildings, but a lot less square footage, as its residents know well

[spoiler]
"E" is the credited response as
"Square footage" is a non-count noun and will use "less" rather than "fewer." The correct answer will address this without introducing new errors. [/spoiler]

Can anyone explain?
In A and C, fewer cannot refer to footage, which is non-countable. Eliminate A and C.

In B, built incorrectly modifies residents. Eliminate B.

COMMA + VERBing should refer to the subject of the preceding clause.
In D, seeing should refer to the Baskerville building -- the subject of the preceding clause -- but clearly the building was not seeing.
While seeing as is an idiom used in conversational English, it almost certainly is not an idiom acceptable to the GMAT writers.
Eliminate D.

I'm skeptical of E. The placement of but a lot less square footage is troubling. The GMAT likely would say: the Baskerville building has a great deal more character but a lot less square footage. Also, it's not crystal clear what is being modified by as its residents know well and what exactly the residents know well. What is the source of this question?
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by tuanquang269 » Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:22 am
Agree that between D and E. Choice D, "seeing... " modifies incorrectly.
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