Serious OG 10e (85) Problem

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towerSpider: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 155; Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:02 am; Thanked: 3 times

by towerSpider » Sat Jan 01, 2011 8:39 am

Out of America's fascination with all things antique have grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that are bringing back the chaise lounge, the overstuffed sofa, and claw-footed bathtub.

(A) things antique have grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that are bringing
(B) things antique has grown a market for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures that is bringing
(C) things that are antique has grown a market for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures that is bring
(D) antique things have grown a market for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures that are bringing
(E) antique things has grown a market for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures that bring

Correct Answer: B

I have tried to understand this sentence but I could not. If we insert B, we get:

Out of America's fascination with all things antique has grown a market for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures that is bringing back the chaise lounge, the overstuffed sofa, and claw-footed bathtub.

I don't understand what the heck this sentence mean.

Something which I think can bring meaning to this would be to put "," (comma) after things. What are your comments? Thanks.

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Sat Jan 01, 2011 8:39 am

RACHVIK: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 95; Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2010 8:26 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 1 times

by RACHVIK » Sat Jan 01, 2011 10:31 am

towerSpider wrote:Out of America's fascination with all things antique have grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that are bringing back the chaise lounge, the overstuffed sofa, and claw-footed bathtub.

(A) things antique have grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that are bringing
(B) things antique has grown a market for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures that is bringing
(C) things that are antique has grown a market for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures that is bring
(D) antique things have grown a market for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures that are bringing
(E) antique things has grown a market for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures that bring

Correct Answer: B

I have tried to understand this sentence but I could not. If we insert B, we get:

Out of America's fascination with all things antique has grown a market for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures that is bringing back the chaise lounge, the overstuffed sofa, and claw-footed bathtub.

I don't understand what the heck this sentence mean.

Something which I think can bring meaning to this would be to put "," (comma) after things. What are your comments? Thanks.

Hi,

This question is testing SV pair & use of proper verb tense.

If you look carefully, the sentence is inverted. The verb 'has grown' refers to the first subject 'market'. Also we should use 'is bringing' as same refers to singular subject market & it matches correctly with the verb 'has grown' in sentence which indicates an event that started in past and is continuing into the present. Kindly note sentence has two clauses, each inverted. The 2nd clause is introduced by relative pronoun 'that' which refres to noun 'market'.

Thanks

Rachvik

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GMATGuruNY: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 15539; Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pmFollowed by: 1906 members; Location: New York, NY; Thanked: 13060 times; GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:21 am

Out of America's fascination with all things antique has grown a market for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures that is bringing back the chaise lounge, the overstuffed sofa, and the claw-footed bathtub.

The correct answer choice is above. Let's examine how the different parts are functioning.

Out of America's fascination with all things antique = adverb modifying the verb has grown. How has a market grown? It has grown out of America's fascination with all things antique.

has grown = main verb of the sentence. A market has grown.

a market = subject of the sentence and of the verb has grown.

for bygones styles of furniture and fixtures = adjective modifying the noun market. What kind of market? A market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures.

that is bringing back the chaise lounge, the overstuffed sofa, and the claw-footed bathtub = adjective modifying the noun market. What kind of market? A market...that is bringing back the chaise lounge, the overstuffed sofa, and the claw-footed bathtub.

Inverted, the sentence could be written:

A market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures -- a market that is bringing back the chaise lounge, the overstuffed sofa, and the claw-footed bathtub -- has grown out of America's fascination with all things antique.

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towerSpider: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 155; Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:02 am; Thanked: 3 times

by towerSpider » Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:44 am

Thank you so much for your kind , detailed, and well taught explanation. I didnt know that this inverted kind of sentences also existed and that they were also valid, but it sounds a bit weird. I mean if it is not the only correct version, but structure of S+V+O, or O+V+S (passive voice) is at least, normal, usual, Comprehensive, and noticeable-to-mental-grammar . How in such small time and intense pressure we will recognize such odd pattern? I mean if you follow the standard pattern of S+V+O, then one would comprehend that market is object and subject is messed up .

whats the point of saying simple thing in such a weird way? Other thing is that twisting something in such odd manner gives interrogative form to it. For example if i change "i have killed siberian man" to "have i killed siberian man", then evidently sentence changes into question. In fact i realise it now that that sentence can also be treated as question? Thanks.

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