Pigeons

Expert replies

Previous Topic Next Topic

kelly20_00: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 9; Joined: Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:35 pm

by kelly20_00 » Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:58 pm

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:58 pm

thephoenix: Legendary Member; Posts: 1560; Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:38 amFollowed by: 5 members; Thanked: 137 times

by thephoenix » Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:33 pm

kelly20_00 wrote:The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find
.......correct
B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find
......trained for some purpose therefore as is incorrect
C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find
-----ing form is unnecessary + if is incorrect
D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find
.......meaning changed...awkward....tests can not see
E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding
........tests can not see
The answer is A. My guess was C.
My questions is:
Why are the 2 verbs 'help find' placing together correct?

just to correct its not help its to help (infinitive phrase) and it is used as an adverb modifier modifying the verb find

Like this post

money9111: Legendary Member; Posts: 2109; Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pmFollowed by: 79 members; Location: New Jersey; Thanked: 109 times; GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:49 pm

is help a linking verb?

My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants

Like this post

kelly20_00: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 9; Joined: Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:35 pm

by kelly20_00 » Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:03 pm

thephoenix wrote:
kelly20_00 wrote:The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find
.......correct
B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find
......trained for some purpose therefore as is incorrect
C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find
-----ing form is unnecessary + if is incorrect
D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find
.......meaning changed...awkward....tests can not see
E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding
........tests can not see
The answer is A. My guess was C.
My questions is:
Why are the 2 verbs 'help find' placing together correct?

just to correct its not help its to help (infinitive phrase) and it is used as an adverb modifier modifying the verb find

Thanks!

Actually I don't know much about adverb modifier. I searched on the net but seems that the information there is not clear and comprehensive. Does anyone can tell me more about this?

Many thanks!

Like this post

Osirus@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1578; Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 8:02 amFollowed by: 34 members; Thanked: 128 times; GMAT Score:760

by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:20 pm

money9111 wrote:is help a linking verb?

No the linking verbs are

is are was were be been being am

appear become look feel grow remain resemble represent

seem smell sound stay taste touch turn

Like this post

money9111: Legendary Member; Posts: 2109; Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pmFollowed by: 79 members; Location: New Jersey; Thanked: 109 times; GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:40 pm

gotcha

My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants

Like this post

viidyasagar: Community Manager; Posts: 156; Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:06 amFollowed by: 3 members; Location: Mumbai, India; Thanked: 16 times; GMAT Score:700

by viidyasagar » Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:30 pm

Actually I don't know much about adverb modifier. I searched on the net but seems that the information there is not clear and comprehensive. Does anyone can tell me more about this?

For a start refer to this https://flang1.kendall.mdc.edu/6/611/611 ... 11Lec2.htm

I will try explaining the "participial adverb modifier" - a favorite among test makers....(source: BTG, Manhattan forums and a few years of study)

A phrase starting with an "ing" is known as a participial phrase.

1. A participle phrase at the start of a sentence normally functions as a noun modifier

e.g. Upon leaving the register, the customer received a receipt from the cashier

The underlined participial phrase answers the question "who" hence the answer MUST always follow the comma

Some people love to call it the "touch" rule (applicable in noun and adjective modifiers)

2. A participle phrase after a comma (appearing anywhere in the sentence) functions as an adverb modifier.

Note: if you see an -ing modifier after a full clause and a comma, it WILL be an adverbial modifier

for e.g. The British policymakers raised interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow

Here the underlined participial phrase answers the question (generally) answers the question "how" an action was performed...... sometimes "when"

An adverbial modifier need not follow the touch rule.... they can be placed anywhere in the sentence, as long as there is no ambiguity about what they modify.

Consume this...

Hoping to restrain economic growth, British policymakers raised interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow

This sentence contains both noun and adverbial modifiers......hope it makes sense.

Remember - an adverb modifier - always says something more about another adverb - The sun came out quite suddenly.....

"quite" is an adverb modifier modifying suddenly ..... An "adverbial modifier", which we have discussed above, modifies a clause.

Hope it helps

Like this post

mmon: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 105; Joined: Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:07 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 3 times

by mmon » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:56 pm

viidyasagar wrote:
Actually I don't know much about adverb modifier. I searched on the net but seems that the information there is not clear and comprehensive. Does anyone can tell me more about this?
For a start refer to this https://flang1.kendall.mdc.edu/6/611/611 ... 11Lec2.htm

I will try explaining the "participial adverb modifier" - a favorite among test makers....(source: BTG, Manhattan forums and a few years of study)

A phrase starting with an "ing" is known as a participial phrase.

1. A participle phrase at the start of a sentence normally functions as a noun modifier

e.g. Upon leaving the register, the customer received a receipt from the cashier

The underlined participial phrase answers the question "who" hence the answer MUST always follow the comma

Some people love to call it the "touch" rule (applicable in noun and adjective modifiers)

2. A participle phrase after a comma (appearing anywhere in the sentence) functions as an adverb modifier.

Note: if you see an -ing modifier after a full clause and a comma, it WILL be an adverbial modifier

for e.g. The British policymakers raised interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow

Here the underlined participial phrase answers the question (generally) answers the question "how" an action was performed...... sometimes "when"

An adverbial modifier need not follow the touch rule.... they can be placed anywhere in the sentence, as long as there is no ambiguity about what they modify.

Consume this...

Hoping to restrain economic growth, British policymakers raised interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow

This sentence contains both noun and adverbial modifiers......hope it makes sense.

Remember - an adverb modifier - always says something more about another adverb - The sun came out quite suddenly.....

"quite" is an adverb modifier modifying suddenly ..... An "adverbial modifier", which we have discussed above, modifies a clause.

Hope it helps[/quoteindeed too nice explanation. Nothing could have been better.

Like this post

gauravgundal: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 199; Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:15 am; Location: India; Thanked: 13 times

by gauravgundal » Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:02 pm

The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find

B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find

C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find

D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find

E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding

IMO A.

Now Why I select A as answer

"to see" and "that see"
How the Tests can see...
so the options D and E are wrong.

A,Band C the answers start with "to see" ok..
the other difference is whether /if
'whether' is used in the sent. when there are two possibilites. (Yes/No)
so from this we can take out option as wrong one.

now go for A and B

See Modifiers help us a lot ,but in this case we should not look for it..

Just think a bit
How are the pigeons trained?
If they are trained as a helper or a doctor or an engineer blah blah ..
Does it specify about something? then trained as would have been better.

But nothing is specified as such.
A is the right one.

Last edited by gauravgundal on Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

Like this post

hrishi19884: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 407; Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 1:20 amFollowed by: 1 member; Location: India; Thanked: 20 times

by hrishi19884 » Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:11 am

kelly20_00 wrote:The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find

B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find

C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find

D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find

E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding

The answer is A. My guess was C.

My questions is:

Why are the 2 verbs 'help find' placing together correct?

Many Thanks!

In case you just have 30 seconds left to answer this question in the real GMAT, how would you go about finding the answer?

https://www.winningprep.com/GMATIdiomList.html

Refer the idiom list above

"trained to" is an idiom which is there only in A-- Rules out B, C, D, E

Answer is A

Hrishi

"As you sow, so shall you reap"

Like this post

bhumika.k.shah: Legendary Member; Posts: 941; Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:28 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 20 times

by bhumika.k.shah » Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:08 am

Perfect!
i think this is what was mainly needed . The correct idiom is trained to . and not trained as.

hrishi19884 wrote:
kelly20_00 wrote:The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find

B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find

C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find

D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find

E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding

The answer is A. My guess was C.

My questions is:

Why are the 2 verbs 'help find' placing together correct?

Many Thanks!

In case you just have 30 seconds left to answer this question in the real GMAT, how would you go about finding the answer?

https://www.winningprep.com/GMATIdiomList.html

Refer the idiom list above

"trained to" is an idiom which is there only in A-- Rules out B, C, D, E

Answer is A

Like this post

bhumika.k.shah: Legendary Member; Posts: 941; Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:28 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 20 times

by bhumika.k.shah » Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:09 am

IMO A

Like this post

Post new topic Locked

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

559 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review