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usage of "that" in a sentence

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by ildude02 » Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:05 pm
Can any expert throw his or her insight on when to use "THAT" and when to avoid THAT in a sentence.More importantly, the usage of THAT with the GMAT SC's and how to spot the error where THAT is unecessary and when it's needed. I'd really appreciate your response based of the attached question as to why A is right if indeed is or why D is right or wrong.
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by Vignesh.4384 » Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:08 pm
What is the difference between that and which?

That - That is used with restrictive phrases. Restrictive phrases are phrases that are essential to the sentence.

Which - Which is used with nonrestrictive phrases. Nonrestrictive phrases are phrases that states non essential information. A phase is nonrestrictive phase if the phase can be from the sentence.

Examples:

* The shirt that you lent me is in my bag.
* The shirt, which is red, is in my bag.

If the above were true then in our question we r not exactly trying 2 restrict the countries. i guess they are trying 2 show a wider range of countries. so i guess the option A is the answer? not 2 sure though.

Please correct me if i am wrong.

Regards,
Vignesh
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d

by ektamatta » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:21 am
Is oa d?
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by harish » Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:30 am
Is OA C ?
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by ildude02 » Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:55 am
Answer is A. I hope any of the experts can explain the difference between A and D since I'm still not clear with the usage of "that". Appreciate anyone's response. I know it's a restrictive clause and which is non restrictive clause etc. But I'm still nto able to figure out the when to avoid it "vs" when to use it.
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by dsk » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:21 pm
My logic for choosing A over D,

D => countries that are as varied as China => would mean, those countries comparable to China, Netherlands or Hungary.

A=> implies a range of countries.

The meaning of the sentence is different in the two...hope it makes sense..
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by Aldiablo » Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:20 pm
difference between 'that' and 'which' ... that gives essential information whereas which gives additional information.


Consider these two sentences -

1. My flat is in the third apartment, which is red, in the lane.
2. My flat is in the third apartment, that is red, in the lane

The difference between these two is -
In statement 1 it means my flat is third in apartment while in statement 2 it means my flat is in the third red apartment in the lane, which can actually be 4-5-6th apartment of the lane.


Use that as a modifier only when you feel that this information is must to identify the clause
When you think you can or you cannot, you are generally correct.
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Brevity

by gmatutor » Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:26 pm
The difference between A and D is brevity.

In this sentence as varied as = that are as varied as. So choose the more concise answer.

Overusing the word that is a frequent mistake people make in writing. In general this is a really great question to test a person's writing ability.
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by navami » Sun Jun 05, 2011 3:17 am
Can anyone explain what is wrong with option B?
This time no looking back!!!
Navami
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