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

Redeem

Confused..Please Help

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 87
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:01 am
Location: India
Thanked: 2 times

Confused..Please Help

by imhimanshu » Sun May 15, 2011 9:27 am
Hi
Can someone let me know the difference betwen the following two constructions:

Interest rates declined steadily during the first six months of this year.

Interest rates steadily declined during the first six months of this year.

How these constructions differ from each other. Experts,Please help.

Thanks
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
Legendary Member
Posts: 544
Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:10 am
Thanked: 45 times
Followed by:2 members

by sameerballani » Sun May 15, 2011 11:15 am
imhimanshu wrote:Hi
Can someone let me know the difference betwen the following two constructions:

Interest rates declined steadily during the first six months of this year.

Interest rates steadily declined during the first six months of this year.

How these constructions differ from each other. Experts,Please help.
Thanks
Interest rates declined steadily during the first six months of this year.
This means the rate of interest declined and the rate of decline was steady/stable during the period of six months. Assume the rate of interest in 1st mnth(100), 2nd mnth(50), 3rd mnth(25) and so on.. So you will notice that in every subsequent month its reducing by fixed 50%.

Interest rates steadily declined during the first six months of this year.
This means that interest rates dropped/declined in every month during the six month period, however the rate of individual decline might or might not be the same.
Assume rate of interest in 1st mnth(100), 2nd mnth(80), 3rd mnth(40), 4th mnth(36).
We notice interest rate is declining subsequently however rate of declinations are: 20%, 50%, 10% respectively..
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 641
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:07 pm
Location: Madison, WI
Thanked: 162 times
Followed by:45 members
GMAT Score:760

by Jim@Grockit » Sun May 15, 2011 4:20 pm
sameerballani wrote:
imhimanshu wrote:Hi
Can someone let me know the difference betwen the following two constructions:

Interest rates declined steadily during the first six months of this year.

Interest rates steadily declined during the first six months of this year.

How these constructions differ from each other. Experts,Please help.
Thanks
Interest rates declined steadily during the first six months of this year.
This means the rate of interest declined and the rate of decline was steady/stable during the period of six months. Assume the rate of interest in 1st mnth(100), 2nd mnth(50), 3rd mnth(25) and so on.. So you will notice that in every subsequent month its reducing by fixed 50%.

Interest rates steadily declined during the first six months of this year.
This means that interest rates dropped/declined in every month during the six month period, however the rate of individual decline might or might not be the same.
Assume rate of interest in 1st mnth(100), 2nd mnth(80), 3rd mnth(40), 4th mnth(36).
We notice interest rate is declining subsequently however rate of declinations are: 20%, 50%, 10% respectively..
I disagree with this assessment. I would say that the two mean the same thing. Some adverbs cannot be placed after the verb (e.g. ALMOST, NOT QUITE), and in shorter clauses you will often expect many adverbs after the verb:

He ran quickly.
He ran quickly to the bus stop.
He quickly ran to the bus stop.
He quickly ran. (less common in many contexts)
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3225
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pm
Location: Toronto
Thanked: 1710 times
Followed by:614 members
GMAT Score:800

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Mon May 16, 2011 7:44 am
imhimanshu wrote:Hi
Can someone let me know the difference betwen the following two constructions:

Interest rates declined steadily during the first six months of this year.

Interest rates steadily declined during the first six months of this year.

How these constructions differ from each other. Experts,Please help.

Thanks
Hi,

the two sentences are essentially the same. The GMAT will never present two such similar choices and force you to choose between them.
Image

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1