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

Redeem

Tricky Subjunctive mood

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue May 19, 2009 10:48 am
Location: Chicago
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:680

Tricky Subjunctive mood

by Katrusya » Sat May 30, 2009 12:42 pm
The physicians explained that had the patient known the warning signs of canser, he would have come in earlier for a check-up.
A.
B. if the patient had known the warning signs of canser, he would have come in earlier
C. if the patient knew the warning signs of canser, he would have come in earlier
D. had the patient known the warning signs of canser, he would come in earlier
E. if the patient would have known the warning signs of canser, he would have come in earlier.

OA is A
I think both A and B are right.What is the difference in particular? Grammar allows to use both constructions....
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 198
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:16 am
Location: San Francisco
Thanked: 14 times

by mbadrew » Sat May 30, 2009 1:56 pm
This question is testing your knowledge about tenses. The word "if" requires a logical step that follows it immediately. In the case of choice B, the if is referring to an event in the past, so logiclly the follow-up step would have taken in the past as well. Let's examine carefully.

The first clause of B is "if the patient........(past perfect tense because of had known), second clause "he would have come in earlier (past progressive tense). The way to correct it is, "If the patient had known....then he would have gone to see the doctor". Otherwise, use just had known, which is just past progressive tense.
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:51 pm

by rrkan » Sat May 30, 2009 7:14 pm
I think the key here is in case of subjunctive construction should be
Subjunctive + That + Clause (Clause should have the verb in base form)
Choice A exactly follows this pattern by using "known". Only confusion is presence of "had" after that, but here had is not used as a verb.

In choice B verb construction is "had known" which does not agree with the subjunctive construction.
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 166
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 11:16 pm
Location: India

by Mayur Sand » Sat May 30, 2009 7:57 pm
what is the problem with (C) here kindly explain
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 3:55 am

by willkillgmat » Sun May 31, 2009 5:31 am
B. if the patient had known the warning signs of canser, he would have come in earlier
C. if the patient knew the warning signs of canser, he would have come in earlier

The answer choice is 'B' because it is has a 'condition' and correctly uses the construction below:

(past perfect (1st) + 2nd (would +have past participle)
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 7:06 pm
Location: Shanghai, China, the People's Republic of

by marshmallow » Sun May 31, 2009 5:47 am
I'm still confused by the nuances between A and B.
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 280
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:18 am
Thanked: 5 times
GMAT Score:610

by Jatinder » Sun May 31, 2009 6:53 am
Bad question
Both A and B are correct!!!
Keep flying
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1