[A] - CORRECT
- INCORRECT, idiom mistake "as....as"
[C] - INCORRECT, SVA error "have" is incorrect
[D] - INCORRECT, first part doesn't have "verb", it's not an Cause-Effect Scenario; Idiom issue
[E] - INCORRECT, first part doesn't have "verb"; it's not an Cause-Effect Scenario

The answer to this question must be A :-

This sentence has correct subject verb agreement. It also presents the "that..." clause in active voice.

B. The plural subject "a surge and a drop" does not agree with the singular verb suggests.

C. The use of the plural verb "have been" does not agree with the singular subject "the economy."

D. The verb-ING modifier after a comma should modify the preceding clause. However, the first part of this answer choice isn't even a clause because it does not contain a verb. So the use of the verb-ING modifier is incorrect in this case. Also, since the first part of the sentence isn't a clause, this entire sentence is actually a fragment.

E. Same as D - incorrect usage of verb-ING modifier and sentence fragment. In addition it uses the passive voice, which is unnecessary.

Hope it help

goelmohit2002 wrote:Hi All,

Following is the question#13 of OG-12.

[spoiler]OA = "A". For kicking out "C", OG says "The sentence offers no plural subject to fit the passive verb have been thought".

Can someone please tell why not we can kick out based on wrong tense....i.e. how present perfect is correct here....shouldn't we had past perfect here(i.e. had)

Also can someone please confirm me can we kick out D and E based on the fact that "comma + ing" setup should modify the entire previous clause....but since in D and E there is no entire clause before "suggesting"...so D and E can be kicked out based on this reason ?
[/spoiler]

A surge in new home sales and a drop in weekly unemployment claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as some analysts previously thought.

A. claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as some analysts previously thought
B. claims suggests that the economy might not be so weak as some analysts have previously thought
C. claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some analysts
D. claims, suggesting about the economy that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some analysts
E. claims, suggesting the economy might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some analysts

I thought that the economy is good
this is idiom

the economy is though good (by me)
is not idiom

end of story.

is my thinking correct

some verb is followed by "that clause", some by object+that clause, some by to-infinitive and some by wh-clause.

goelmohit2002 wrote:Hi All,

Following is the question#13 of OG-12.

[spoiler]OA = "A". For kicking out "C", OG says "The sentence offers no plural subject to fit the passive verb have been thought".

Can someone please tell why not we can kick out based on wrong tense....i.e. how present perfect is correct here....shouldn't we had past perfect here(i.e. had)

Also can someone please confirm me can we kick out D and E based on the fact that "comma + ing" setup should modify the entire previous clause....but since in D and E there is no entire clause before "suggesting"...so D and E can be kicked out based on this reason ?
[/spoiler]

A surge in new home sales and a drop in weekly unemployment claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as some analysts previously thought.

A. claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as some analysts previously thought
B. claims suggests that the economy might not be so weak as some analysts have previously thought
C. claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some analysts
D. claims, suggesting about the economy that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some analysts
E. claims, suggesting the economy might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some analysts

C means

the economy have been thought by analysist

this structure is non sense. there is no this pattern. end of story. no need to analyse more


the economy has been improved by the government
is correct

Hello Everyone!

Let's take a look at this sentence, one issue at a time, to determine which option is the right answer! First, here's the original question, with the major differences between options highlighted in orange:

A surge in new home sales and a drop in weekly unemployment claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as some analysts previously thought.

(A) claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as some analysts previously thought
(B) claims suggests that the economy might not be so weak as some analysts have previously thought
(C) claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some analysts
(D) claims, suggesting about the economy that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some analysts
(E) claims, suggesting the economy might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some analysts

A quick glance over the options tells us we have 2 major issues to deal with:

1. Verb Tense: suggest / suggests / suggesting
2. Active vs. Passive Voice: some analysts previously thought / previously thought by some analysts

Let's start with #1 on our list: verb tense. We need to make sure that the verb agrees with the subject, and that we're not creating an accidental sentence fragment:

(A) claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as some analysts previously thought

This is OKAY because it uses a plural verb for a plural subject (A surge in new home sales and a drop in weekly unemployment claims).

(B) claims suggests that the economy might not be so weak as some analysts have previously thought

This is INCORRECT because it uses a singular verb for a plural subject, which doesn't agree in number!

(C) claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some analysts

This is OKAY because it uses a plural verb for a plural subject (A surge in new home sales and a drop in weekly unemployment claims).

(D) claims, suggesting about the economy that it might not be so weak as previously thought by some analysts

This is INCORRECT because by changing "suggest" to the gerund "suggesting," it eliminates the verb from the sentence - making this a sentence fragment!

(E) claims, suggesting the economy might not be as weak as previously thought to be by some analysts

This is INCORRECT because by changing "suggest" to the gerund "suggesting," it eliminates the verb from the sentence - making this a sentence fragment!

We can eliminate options B, D, and E because they don't use the right verb tense/form to agree with the subject.

Now that we're left with 2 options, let's take a look at #2 on our list: active vs. passive voice. Whenever possible, we MUST use active voice over passive voice. Active voice is clearer, less wordy, and always preferred on the GMAT.

(A) claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as some analysts previously thought

This is CORRECT! It uses the correct verb tense (suggest) and uses active voice!

(C) claims suggest that the economy might not be as weak as have been previously thought by some analysts

This is INCORRECT because it uses passive voice instead of active voice, which is a major no-no on the GMAT!

There you go - option A was the correct choice all along!


Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.