Sentence Correction

I confirm. And I have faced it. We can communicate on this theme. Here or in PM.

@guru
as per Manhattan SC What comes before the colon must be able to stand alone as a sentence. What comes after the colon does not have to stand alone.
So E should be correct or should be eliminated for some other reason.

Or is that if colon is not used to introduce examples what follows colon must be a clause[containing subject and verb].
Please clear this doubt

In my opinion you are not right. I can prove it. Write to me in PM, we will discuss.

GMATGuruNY wrote:The Western world's love affair with chocolate is well-documented: few people have been known to have tasted it for the first time without requesting more.

(A) few people have been known to have tasted it
(B) few having been known to taste it
(C) it has been tasted by few people
(D) few people have been known to taste it
(E) few people having tasted it

Colons typically are used either TO INTRODUCE A LIST (not the case here) or TO CONNECT TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES (as is the case here). An independent clause contains both a subject and a verb and could stand on its own as a complete sentence.

In B and E, a complete sentence doesn't follow the colon. Eliminate B and E.

In C, the pronoun it is ambiguous: it could refer to the love affair or to chocolate. Also, has been tasted is passive. It's better to say few people have tasted it (active) than to say it has been tasted by few people (passive). Eliminate C.

When you have a choice, avoid the passive voice.

Now we're down to A and D. According to the sentence, what have few people been able to do? They have been unable to taste chocolate for the first time without requesting more. Eliminate A.

The correct answer is D.

In A, the use of the perfect infinitive (to have tasted) is incorrect and awkward. The correct construction is been known + infinitive:

People have been known to ace the GMAT.

Hope this helps!

Hi guru,

Thanks very much for the explanation. I have read your above explanation and still have some doubts.
Firstly, You have mentioned that "Colons typically are used either TO INTRODUCE A LIST (not the case here) or TO CONNECT TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES (as is the case here). An independent clause contains both a subject and a verb and could stand on its own as a complete sentence." I have read that semicolon separates 2 independent clauses;whereas, a colon separates independent clause and a dependent clause (explaining the independent clause). As your explanation is not inline with what I had read, so I am little confused.

Secondly, you mentioned that "In B and E, a complete sentence doesn't follow the colon. Eliminate B and E." can you explain why B and E are not making a complete sentence?

Finally, I am finding it difficult to spot the subject and verb in this sentence: "few people have been known to taste it for the first time without requesting more."

nash.8087 wrote:Hi guru,

Thanks very much for the explanation. I have read your above explanation and still have some doubts.
Firstly, You have mentioned that "Colons typically are used either TO INTRODUCE A LIST (not the case here) or TO CONNECT TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES (as is the case here). An independent clause contains both a subject and a verb and could stand on its own as a complete sentence." I have read that semicolon separates 2 independent clauses;whereas, a colon separates independent clause and a dependent clause (explaining the independent clause). As your explanation is not inline with what I had read, so I am little confused.

An INDEPENDENT CLAUSE contains a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
A colon must be preceded by an independent clause.
Generally, what follows a colon will fall into one of two categories:

Case 1: An INDEPENDENT CLAUSE that follows a colon should serve to explain or define the independent clause that PRECEDES the colon
It is easy to see why John is a popular soccer player: he scores more goals than any other player on the team.
Here, the independent clause that follows the colon (he scores more goals than any other player on the team) serves to explain the independent clause that precedes the colon (it is easy to see why John is a popular soccer player).

Case 2: A NOUN (or a LIST of nouns) that follows a colon should serve to explain or define the NOUN that immediately precedes the colon
John plays only one sport: soccer.
Here, the noun that follows the colon (soccer) serves to define the noun that immediately precedes the colon (sport).
John plays three sports: soccer, baseball, and hockey.
Here, the list of nouns that follows the colon (soccer, baseball and hockey) serves to define the noun that immediately precedes the colon (sports).

Secondly, you mentioned that "In B and E, a complete sentence doesn't follow the colon. Eliminate B and E." can you explain why B and E are not making a complete sentence?

The Western world's love affair with chocolate is well-documented: few people have been known to have tasted it for the first time without requesting more.

(B) few having been known to taste it
(E) few people having tasted it

In B and E, the structure is NOUN + VERBing MODIFIER.
B: few = noun, having been known = VERBing modifier.
E: people = noun, having tasted it = VERBIng modifier.
As noted above, a noun that follows a colon should refer to the noun that immediately precedes the colon.
But in the SC above, the colon is preceded by an ADJECTIVE (well-documented).
A noun that follows a colon cannot serve to refer to an adjective.
Thus, the structure in B and E is not viable.

Finally, I am finding it difficult to spot the subject and verb in this sentence: "few people have been known to taste it for the first time without requesting more."

Subject = people.
Verb = have been known.
In the OA, few people have been known is an Independent clause that serves to explain the independent clause that precedes the colon.

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