Isaac Newton

[EricKryk]

In his experiments with gravity, Isaac Newton showed how the motion of each planet in the solar system results from the combined gravitational pull of the Sun and of all the other planets, each contributing according to their mass and distance from the others.

(A) of all the other planets, each contributing according to their

(B) of all the other planets, with each of them contributing according to their

(C) all the other planets, each of which contributing according to its

(D) of the other planets, each contributing according to its

(E) all the other planets, each of which contribute according to their

[Patrick_GMATFix]

The solution below is taken from the GMATFix App.



-Patrick

[gloube]

Please explain why "each of which" is worse than "each"

[Patrick_GMATFix]

"each of which" on its own is no worse than "each". The former just needs to be used in the right context.

It would be correct to say "all the planets, each of which contributes". However, the answer choices say "each of which contributing" (B) and "each of which contribute" (E).

[gloube]

"each of which" on its own is no worse than "each". The former just needs to be used in the right context.

It would be correct to say "all the planets, each of which contributes". However, the answer choices say "each of which contributing" (B) and "each of which contribute" (E).

I was trying to understand answer C vs. answer D. Actually I think the missing "of" in answer C is the reason it is wrong. I don't think that "each of which" vs. "each" is a sufficient reason to discard answer C. I don't agree with your explanation above and I frankly don't understand it.

[gloube]

"each of which" on its own is no worse than "each". The former just needs to be used in the right context.

It would be correct to say "all the planets, each of which contributes". However, the answer choices say "each of which contributing" (B) and "each of which contribute" (E).

I was trying to understand answer C vs. answer D. Actually I think the missing "of" in answer C is the reason it is wrong. I don't think that "each of which" vs. "each" is a sufficient reason to discard answer C. I don't agree with your explanation above and I frankly don't understand it.

[GMATGuruNY]

Please explain why "each of which" is worse than "each"

Relative pronouns are which, that, who, whom and whose.
A relative pronoun must serve as part of a relative CLAUSE.
A relative clause requires both a subject and a VERB.

C: each of which contributing
Here, contributing serves not as a verb but as an ADJECTIVE.
Since the relative clause in C lacks a verb, eliminate C.

[gloube]

Here, contributing serves not as a verb but as an ADJECTIVE.
Since the relative clause in C lacks a verb, eliminate C.
.

-Ok, so let's eliminate D as well because it is the exact same use of "contributing"...

[GMATGuruNY]

Here, contributing serves not as a verb but as an ADJECTIVE.
Since the relative clause in C lacks a verb, eliminate C.
.

-Ok, so let's eliminate D as well because it is the exact same use of "contributing"...

In D, there is no relative pronoun, so a verb is not required.

The modifier in D is an ABSOLUTE PHRASE, which consists of NOUN + MODIFIER.
In D, the noun in the absolute phrase is each, while the modifier is contributing.
For a discussion of absolute phrases, check my 2nd post here:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/sir-joseph-t59644-15.html

Note the following:
A relative pronoun such as which CANNOT serve as part of an absolute phrase.
The reason:
An absolute phrase has no verb; a relative pronoun such as which REQUIRES a verb.

[aflaam]

Here, contributing serves not as a verb but as an ADJECTIVE.
Since the relative clause in C lacks a verb, eliminate C.
.

-Ok, so let's eliminate D as well because it is the exact same use of "contributing"...

In D, there is no relative pronoun, so a verb is not required.

The modifier in D is an ABSOLUTE PHRASE, which consists of NOUN + MODIFIER.
In D, the noun in the absolute phrase is each, while the modifier is contributing.
For a discussion of absolute phrases, check my 2nd post here:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/sir-joseph-t59644-15.html

Note the following:
A relative pronoun such as which CANNOT serve as part of an absolute phrase.
The reason:
An absolute phrase has no verb; a relative pronoun such as which REQUIRES a verb.

hi Mitch,
hope you are doing good.
Is this following version also correct?
-->of the other planets, each of which contributes according to its .
Many thanks