Sentence Correction

Trying to keep her balance on the icy surface, the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow.

A. the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow.
B. the ski-tip of the last competitor caught the pole and somersaulted in the soft snow.
C. the last competitor caught the pole with the tip of her ski, and somersaulted into the soft snow.
D. the last competitor caught the pole with her ski-tip, which made her somersault into the soft snow.
E. the last competitor somersaulted into the soft snow when the tip of her ski was caught by the pole.

IMO D

pzazz12 wrote:Trying to keep her balance on the icy surface, the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow.

A. the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow.
B. the ski-tip of the last competitor caught the pole and somersaulted in the soft snow.
C. the last competitor caught the pole with the tip of her ski, and somersaulted into the soft snow.
D. the last competitor caught the pole with her ski-tip, which made her somersault into the soft snow.
E. the last competitor somersaulted into the soft snow when the tip of her ski was caught by the pole.

IMO C

You're right!!

Its C

shovan85 wrote:IMO C

The meaning of "C" does not seem convincing,,
IMO -- E

pzazz12 wrote:Trying to keep her balance on the icy surface, the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow.

A. the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow.
B. the ski-tip of the last competitor caught the pole and somersaulted in the soft snow.
C. the last competitor caught the pole with the tip of her ski, and somersaulted into the soft snow.
D. the last competitor caught the pole with her ski-tip, which made her somersault into the soft snow.
E. the last competitor somersaulted into the soft snow when the tip of her ski was caught by the pole.

All the options are faulty.

Examples:

A and B have used dangling modifier. In D "ski-tip, which made her somersault" changes the intended meaning. E is faulty because "ski was caught by the pole" is beyond reality. Pole cannot catch. Someone may catch the pole, but the pole cannot catch someone.

In C, which is bad among the worst options, has a very sever error.

Here is the summary of the error that has been made in C:

We cannot separate two verbs of a single subject by comma.
Example:

He has done the work, and won the prize. ---NOT CORRECT.
He has done the work and won the prize.---CORRECT.

The Rule: No COMMA between list of two things

X and Y--is correct.

X, and Y---NOT correct.

So, C is wrong on this basis.

Conclusion: In the test center, I will choose if the above situation is presented.

The Rule: No COMMA between list of two things

X and Y--is correct.

X, and Y---NOT correct.

So, C is wrong on this basis.

Not entirely true.

,and is usually not a proper connector. Also, when we connect two parts of a sentence using "and" then those two parts need to be independent. For using ,and construction we need have a connecting work like Thus.

Sentence : It was raining, and thus I was late for work is correct.
It was raining, and i was late is incorrect.


Trying to keep her balance on the icy surface, the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow.

Who was trying to keep the balance? - Answer to this question eliminates A and B
Can a ski tip make someone somesault? - No - This eliminates D

E is ambiguous because there are 2 possible meanings

1- The last competitor caught the pole with the tip of her ski and thus somersaulted into the snow
2. The last competitor was waiting for the tip of her ski to get caught and then he or she somersaulted into the snow.

This makes C the correct choice

A. the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow.
B. the ski-tip of the last competitor caught the pole and somersaulted in the soft snow.
C. the last competitor caught the pole with the tip of her ski, and somersaulted into the soft snow.
D. the last competitor caught the pole with her ski-tip, which made her somersault into the soft snow.
E. the last competitor somersaulted into the soft snow when the tip of her ski was caught by the pole.

mohit11 wrote:

The Rule: No COMMA between list of two things

X and Y--is correct.

X, and Y---NOT correct.

So, C is wrong on this basis.

Not entirely true.

,and is usually not a proper connector. Also, when we connect two parts of a sentence using "and" then those two parts need to be independent. For using ,and construction we need have a connecting work like Thus.

Sentence : It was raining, and thus I was late for work is correct.
It was raining, and i was late is incorrect.


Trying to keep her balance on the icy surface, the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow.

Who was trying to keep the balance? - Answer to this question eliminates A and B
Can a ski tip make someone somesault? - No - This eliminates D

E is ambiguous because there are 2 possible meanings

1- The last competitor caught the pole with the tip of her ski and thus somersaulted into the snow
2. The last competitor was waiting for the tip of her ski to get caught and then he or she somersaulted into the snow.

This makes C the correct choice

A. the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow.
B. the ski-tip of the last competitor caught the pole and somersaulted in the soft snow.
C. the last competitor caught the pole with the tip of her ski, and somersaulted into the soft snow.
D. the last competitor caught the pole with her ski-tip, which made her somersault into the soft snow.
E. the last competitor somersaulted into the soft snow when the tip of her ski was caught by the pole.

COMMA + AND is correct in the following cases:

1. When we use list of more than two things.
Example:

I have seen X, Y, and Z.

2. When we join two clauses with AND.

Example:

He was watching TV, and I was reading the history book.

I was saying the following:

In case of two things, comma between the elements are not used.

My observation:

I have some sentence correction questions in which "COMMA + AND" has been used in case of two verbs of a single subject.

If we apply the rule of no comma in case of two things, we will also do the same for two verbs of a single subject.

Example:

I have done the work, and won the prize.---NOT correct.

I have done the work and won the prize. -----Correct.

If something is seen in the official question, that rule can be memorized.

It is their (GMAC's) playground. The make the rules. If we want to play in their field, we MUST obey their rules. I have not seen such type of using (COMMA+AND in case of two verbs of a single subject). I have studied the following:

1. OG10
2. OG11
3. OG12
4. GMATPREP 001
5. GMATPREP 002
6. Manhattan Sentence Correction Guide

--> These are all reliable sources. I have not seen such type of sentence in any one of these sources. If any one finds such question, please let me know. I will memorize that "COMMA + AND" can be used in case of two verbs of a single subject.

Thanks.