VERB in Relative Clauses; Need Expert assitance

Expert replies

race2mba: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 17; Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2012 8:53 am; Thanked: 1 times

by race2mba » Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:56 am

68) In order to ensure that the paint has the same colour from batch to batch, it is the job of a quality control specialist who checks small samples of paint from each batch.
(A) it is the job of a quality control specialist who checks small samples of paint from each batch
(B) it is the quality control specialist’s job to check small samples of paint from each batch
(C) the quality control specialist who checks small samples of paint from each batch
(D) the quality control specialist checks small samples of paint from each batch
(E) small samples of paint from each batch are checked by the quality control specialist

I knew OA is D; However, I always get confused over the Subject Verb agreeement in case of relative clause.

For example, Option D has a relative clause WHO and the Answer explanation says there is NO Verb here because of relative clause and did observed the same for few more examples.

Can Someone explain the CONCEPT of VERBS in case of Relative Clauses.

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:56 am

vishugogo: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 131; Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 4:50 amFollowed by: 6 members; Location: India; Thanked: 28 times

by vishugogo » Thu Jul 25, 2013 6:39 am

In option C if you closely read the sentence in your mind you fill it to be incomplete, so the sentence is a fragment.

Rule with fragments in relative clause

Consider the following 2 sentences:

1) The book is lying on the table

2) The book that is lying on the table

Sentence 1: contains the subject book, the helping verb and main verb is lying

Sentence 2: that is lying on the table is a relative clause describing the position of book. We require a main verb outside this relative clause.

The book that is lying on the table is mine.

This sentence is now correct.

Matt@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 2629; Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pmFollowed by: 119 members; Location: East Bay all the way; Thanked: 625 times; GMAT Score:780

by Matt@VeritasPrep » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:55 am

Here's the basic idea:

Every proper English sentence has a subject and a main verb. This isn't true of all languages, but it is true of English: this is why we say "It's raining", for instance, even though "it" is unspecified.

In answers C and D, we have a modifier ("In order to ensure ...") and a subject being modified ("the quality control specialist"). But answer C doesn't have a main verb, it has ANOTHER MODIFIER ("the quality control specialist who checks ..."). Since C doesn't have a verb taken by the subject of the sentence, it's an incomplete sentence.

Two shorter examples:

The man who does the work.
vs
The man does the work.

The first is incomplete (we have a subject and a modifier, but no verb taken by the subject), while the second is fine.

Save $100 on any VP online course!

Featured schoolRound 2 closes Jan 7, 2027 67 days left

Chicago Booth

Since 1982, 10 Booth faculty members have received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, more than any other business school.

#3
U.S. News rank: $175,000
Median base salary: 670
Average GMAT Focus: 635
Students in the class

Apply to Booth Visit chicagobooth.edu See the full profile

Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0

GMAT Course Reviews

563 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (563 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