BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

SC - Why GMAT prefers cycle over cycle"s"

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Legendary Member
Posts: 1799
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 36 times
by goelmohit2002 » Sat Jul 04, 2009 10:09 am
Hi All,

Can someone please tell why GMAT prefers sentence #1 over #2. Or my understanding is wrong and both are equally liked by GMAT ?

1. three out of every 32 people now own a bicycle
2. three out of every 32 people now own bicycle"s".
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 435
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:02 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Location: San Jose, CA
Thanked: 43 times
GMAT Score:720

Re: SC - Why GMAT prefers cycle over cycle"s"

by dumb.doofus » Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:46 pm
goelmohit2002 wrote:Hi All,

Can someone please tell why GMAT prefers sentence #1 over #2. Or my understanding is wrong and both are equally liked by GMAT ?

1. three out of every 32 people now own a bicycle
2. three out of every 32 people now own bicycle"s".
It's just totally dependent upon what you are trying to imply..

Let's say there are three guys: A, B and C and they each have ONLY one bike.. then the first sentence makes sense.. as it says 3 out of every 32 now own "a" bicycle..

Now let's say, each of these three guys owns multiple bikes.. i.e. A has 3 bicycles, B has 4 and C has 6..
Now the first sentence still makes sense.. although the second one also makes sense.. as it says, three out of every 32 people own bicycles.

so it depends on what you are trying to say..
One love, one blood, one life. You got to do what you should.
https://dreambigdreamhigh.blocked/
https://gmattoughies.blocked/
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 50
Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:36 am
Thanked: 1 times

Re: SC - Why GMAT prefers cycle over cycle"s"

by graghukalyan » Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:50 pm
dumb.doofus wrote:
goelmohit2002 wrote:Hi All,

Can someone please tell why GMAT prefers sentence #1 over #2. Or my understanding is wrong and both are equally liked by GMAT ?

1. three out of every 32 people now own a bicycle
2. three out of every 32 people now own bicycle"s".
It's just totally dependent upon what you are trying to imply..

Let's say there are three guys: A, B and C and they each have ONLY one bike.. then the first sentence makes sense.. as it says 3 out of every 32 now own "a" bicycle..

Now let's say, each of these three guys owns multiple bikes.. i.e. A has 3 bicycles, B has 4 and C has 6..
Now the first sentence still makes sense.. although the second one also makes sense.. as it says, three out of every 32 people own bicycles.

so it depends on what you are trying to say..
_---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi,
Can you pls explain which one to prefer if given in a question. I think I am still missing something here :(

THX
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 435
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:02 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Location: San Jose, CA
Thanked: 43 times
GMAT Score:720

Re: SC - Why GMAT prefers cycle over cycle"s"

by dumb.doofus » Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:55 pm
graghukalyan wrote:
dumb.doofus wrote:
goelmohit2002 wrote:Hi All,

Can someone please tell why GMAT prefers sentence #1 over #2. Or my understanding is wrong and both are equally liked by GMAT ?

1. three out of every 32 people now own a bicycle
2. three out of every 32 people now own bicycle"s".
It's just totally dependent upon what you are trying to imply..

Let's say there are three guys: A, B and C and they each have ONLY one bike.. then the first sentence makes sense.. as it says 3 out of every 32 now own "a" bicycle..

Now let's say, each of these three guys owns multiple bikes.. i.e. A has 3 bicycles, B has 4 and C has 6..
Now the first sentence still makes sense.. although the second one also makes sense.. as it says, three out of every 32 people own bicycles.

so it depends on what you are trying to say..
_---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi,
Can you pls explain which one to prefer if given in a question. I think I am still missing something here :(

THX
as I said, it depends on what the sentence is trying to imply.. till we know the whole sentence we can't say much.. I would wait for the whole sentence to be posted..
One love, one blood, one life. You got to do what you should.
https://dreambigdreamhigh.blocked/
https://gmattoughies.blocked/
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 1799
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:36 pm
Hi DD,

I too had the similar opinion as to yours. Can you please look into the following question:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/tax-returns-t39368.html

Here the OA is B. But as per the above discussion shouldn't the answer be A. Since people might be filing multiple returns.

Or do u think that there is some problem in OA.

Thanks
Mohit
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 435
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:02 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Location: San Jose, CA
Thanked: 43 times
GMAT Score:720

by dumb.doofus » Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:45 pm
goelmohit2002 wrote:Hi DD,

I too had the similar opinion as to yours. Can you please look into the following question:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/tax-returns-t39368.html

Here the OA is B. But as per the above discussion shouldn't the answer be A. Since people might be filing multiple returns.

Or do u think that there is some problem in OA.

Thanks
Mohit
Perfect. I do not see any ambiguity in that question.. and it is based on the same lines as I explained above.. as I said, if A, B and C have ONLY a bicycle each than the first sentence makes perfect sense.. i.e. 3 out of every 32 people now own a bike... Notice "a bike".. i.e. single bike

Let's check this question now:

This April, three out of seven people will file tax returns with a disc found in software stores and accounting texts.

A) tax returns with a disk found in software stores and accounting texts
B) a tax return with a disk found in software stores and accounting texts
C) tax returns with disks found in a software store and an accounting text
D) tax returns with a disk found in a software store and an accounting text
E) a tax return with a disk found in a software store and an accounting text

Each of those three people is going to file a single tax return.. coz that's what you can file.. isnt it?
So you can straightaway eliminate A, C and D..
Also, now we can eliminate E because it uses the indefinite article "a" and "an" implying you can find that disc in only one software store and in only one accounting text.. that is not the intended meaning at all..
Only choice left is B.. which is quite clear and concise..
Last edited by dumb.doofus on Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
One love, one blood, one life. You got to do what you should.
https://dreambigdreamhigh.blocked/
https://gmattoughies.blocked/
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 1799
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:48 pm
Hi DD,

Why can't we file multiple returns using a single software ?

e.g. income tax returns, property tax returns and so on ?

Thanks
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 435
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:02 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Location: San Jose, CA
Thanked: 43 times
GMAT Score:720

by dumb.doofus » Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:54 pm
Buddy.. govt allows you to file one single tax return per person per year.. what ever it is .. property or stocks or whatever earnings.. everything you file under a single tax return per person per year.. that's govt rules and regulations.. as far as I know..
One love, one blood, one life. You got to do what you should.
https://dreambigdreamhigh.blocked/
https://gmattoughies.blocked/
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 1799
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:57 pm
Thanks DD.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 1799
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:54 am
Hi DD,

I again visited the link, as per the discussion on that thread KaplanOE says that A is wrong because

"there is subject-verb agreement error in A."

Can you please help....how there is S-V mismatch.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1