NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 24 Apr 2024, 04:06 It is currently 24 Apr 2024, 04:06
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
 1   2   
Tags:
Find Similar Topics 
Show Tags
Hide Tags
User avatar
L
Bunuel
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 92901
Own Kudos [?]: 618699 [65]
Given Kudos: 81586
Send PM
CAT Tests Forum Quiz Mode
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   17 May 2019, 01:51
4
Kudos
61
Bookmarks
Expert Reply
00:00
A
B
C
D
E

Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

68% (00:59) correct 32% (01:09) wrong based on 2417 sessions
Hide Show timer Statistics
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining about them, he would have been a good student.

(A) had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining
(B) had spent half as much time to attend his classes as he did to complain
(C) were to spend as much time attending his classes as he does complaining
(D) were to spend half as much time attending his classes as complaining
(E) should spend half as much time attending his classes as to complain
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
A
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
L
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Posts: 6917
Own Kudos [?]: 63652 [6]
Given Kudos: 1773
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170

GRE 2: Q170 V170
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   27 May 2019, 09:24
6
Kudos
Expert Reply
Shipra123 wrote:
In this question ATTENDING is used as Verb+ing modifier or not? If yes then how it is modifying nearest noun that is TIME???

The word "attending" doesn't just modify the noun "time". In fact, it modifies the entire preceding clause. The -ing modifier tells us how Charles should have spent his time.

This is a little easier to see if we get rid of the conditional "if" for a moment: "Charles spent a lot of time attending classes." How did Charles spend a lot of time? Attending classes.

For more on -ing modifiers, check out this post.

I hope this helps!
User avatar
D
thangvietnam
Director
Director
Joined: 29 Jun 2017
Posts: 778
Own Kudos [?]: 396 [5]
Given Kudos: 2198
Send PM
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 29 Mar 2020, 02:47
2
Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bunuel wrote:
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining about them, he would have been a good student.

A. had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining
B. had spent half as much time to attend his classes as he did to complain
C. were to spend as much time attending his classes as he does complaining
D. were to spend half as much time attending his classes as complaining
E. should spend half as much time attending his classes as to complain


it is simple to go to choice A, because had done is need and spent require doing, not to do.

I want to make a point here

in choice A, why "he did" . use of did is correct or not.

this is conditional in the past. if some thing had happened in the past, a thing would have done in the past. "as he did" in choice A is not conditional. "as he did" is a fact. this fact happen in the past too. but this fact can happen at present

if I had learned gmat as I do today, I would have succeeded last year.

this is also correct.

what I learn from this section is that conditional had done can go with "as he did/do".

this question offer a special case in which had done go with did. a condition in the past gose with a fact in the past. this is realy interesting

"had done " can go with "would do" though "would have done" need "had done"

if you had learn gmat , you would succeed today

if in the past you did some thing, at present you will have something. this case is logical. so, do not remember that "had done" always go with "would have done"." had done "can go with "would have done "or "would do. "

Originally posted by thangvietnam on 19 May 2019, 01:45.
Last edited by thangvietnam on 29 Mar 2020, 02:47, edited 2 times in total.
General Discussion
avatar
B
ayuG
Intern
Intern
Joined: 06 Feb 2019
Posts: 7
Own Kudos [?]: 4 [4]
Given Kudos: 33
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   17 May 2019, 03:36
1
Kudos
2
Bookmarks
I think the answer should be A.

PROCESS OF ELIMINATION -

The use of would indicates the possibility of him being a good student. 'Were' is not needed here. C & D are out.

The use of should is wrong here because we are not recommending anything and we're only discussing an alternate course of action and it's consequences. E is out.

The use of infinitives was incorrect and sounds awkward. B is out. (Would like a better explanation.)

Posted from my mobile device
avatar
S
neha283
Manager
Manager
Joined: 05 Oct 2017
Posts: 90
Own Kudos [?]: 41 [1]
Given Kudos: 103
Location: India
Schools: Anderson '24 Fuqua '24 ISB '23 Johnson '24 Kellogg '24 Rotman '24
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V35
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   17 May 2019, 05:44
1
Kudos
The non-underlined portion of the sentence says - "he would have been a good student." This means the tense of the subject compalin and attend should be past tense. So, option C, D and E are out. Out of A and B, A seems more correct, to attend and to complain looks awkward.
IMO, (A)
User avatar
S
janadipesh
Manager
Manager
Joined: 10 Jun 2014
Posts: 70
Own Kudos [?]: 78 [0]
Given Kudos: 286
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Finance
WE:Manufacturing and Production (Energy and Utilities)
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   19 May 2019, 00:24
Other than awkwardness as mentioned in replies , any other reason to eliminate B
User avatar
S
krazzysaad
Current Student
Joined: 03 Jan 2019
Posts: 22
Own Kudos [?]: 38 [4]
Given Kudos: 134
Location: India
Schools: IIMC MBAEx'23 (I) S.P.Jain Institute (A)
GMAT 1: 670 Q49 V33
GPA: 4
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   19 May 2019, 09:47
3
Kudos
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining about them, he would have been a good student.

A. had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining
B. had spent half as much time to attend his classes as he did to complain
C. were to spend as much time attending his classes as he does complaining
D. were to spend half as much time attending his classes as complaining
E. should spend half as much time attending his classes as to complain

Here, the key is to notice "If...THEN" clause which is a conditional.
This is valid even if "then" is not used.
After you have noted that, S-V pair must agree.

This only agrees for past perfect + would have
eg: If Sam had played with any toy, it would have been his remote controlled airplane. (would have verb)

With this, you can eliminate all options except A and B.

Of the two, you must eliminate the one which sounds more awkward.

Hence, OA is A
avatar
B
Shipra123
Intern
Intern
Joined: 01 Apr 2019
Posts: 1
Own Kudos [?]: 0 [0]
Given Kudos: 16
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   19 May 2019, 11:09
In this question ATTENDING is used as Verb+ing modifier or not? If yes then how it is modifying nearest noun that is TIME???
avatar
S
OhsostudiousMJ
Manager
Manager
Joined: 28 Jan 2019
Posts: 72
Own Kudos [?]: 64 [2]
Given Kudos: 121
Location: India
Schools: ISB '21 (A) Great Lakes '21 (WD)
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V36
GPA: 4
WE:Manufacturing and Production (Manufacturing)
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   19 May 2019, 23:24
2
Bookmarks
Hi, can someone answer this?

Had the sentence been..
"If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining about them, he could have been a good student."

Option D would have been right?
User avatar
L
globaldesi
VP
VP
Joined: 28 Jul 2016
Posts: 1212
Own Kudos [?]: 1728 [0]
Given Kudos: 67
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Human Resources
Schools: ISB '18 (D)
GPA: 3.97
WE:Project Management (Investment Banking)
Send PM
Reviews Badge
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   24 May 2019, 23:38
rnn wrote:
why is B incorrect?


had spent half as much time to attend his classes as he did to complain
to attend and to complain are incorrect.
the sentence needs nouns here and to attend and to complain are acting as verb.
avatar
S
rnn
Manager
Manager
Joined: 27 Nov 2015
Posts: 89
Own Kudos [?]: 38 [0]
Given Kudos: 325
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   25 May 2019, 06:22
thanks - why does it need nouns though?
User avatar
L
Abhishek009
Board of Directors
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Status:QA & VA Forum Moderator
Posts: 6072
Own Kudos [?]: 4689 [0]
Given Kudos: 463
Location: India
GPA: 3.5
WE:Business Development (Commercial Banking)
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   25 May 2019, 11:38
rnn wrote:
thanks - why does it need nouns though?


to + ver ing = Infinitive, check the sentence needs a noun, hence we can reject option (B)
User avatar
D
thangvietnam
Director
Director
Joined: 29 Jun 2017
Posts: 778
Own Kudos [?]: 396 [0]
Given Kudos: 2198
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   25 May 2019, 21:40
janadipesh wrote:
Other than awkwardness as mentioned in replies , any other reason to eliminate B


look at verb spend in the dictionary,
spend on doing
spend doing
are idioms.

hoep it helps.
User avatar
G
Bombsante
Manager
Manager
Joined: 03 Oct 2012
Posts: 120
Own Kudos [?]: 298 [3]
Given Kudos: 41
Location: India
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy
WE:Brand Management (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   27 May 2019, 02:38
3
Kudos
To+verb shows intention or purpose of the subject. In option B use of To+verb indicates that Charles had an intention of doing what he did. This is not what the sentence intends to mean. Instead action of Charles has happened already. Option B can be eliminated.
Options C, D & E can be eliminated for incorrect use of If...then tense forms.
Option A is the best choice.
avatar
B
AdiBatman
Intern
Intern
Joined: 18 Feb 2020
Posts: 34
Own Kudos [?]: 10 [0]
Given Kudos: 164
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   22 Mar 2020, 13:07
GMATNinja
Why subjunctive mood is not applicable here?

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
L
daagh
GMAT Club Legend
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Status: enjoying
Posts: 5265
Own Kudos [?]: 42103 [2]
Given Kudos: 422
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   22 Mar 2020, 13:55
1
Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Expert Reply
Top Contributor
1. Why is B incorrect? IMO, not because it is awkward but because there is no intention or purpose implied in Charles’ behavior. It is more of a random happening. Therefore, the infinitive distorts the meaning
avatar
B
AdiBatman
Intern
Intern
Joined: 18 Feb 2020
Posts: 34
Own Kudos [?]: 10 [0]
Given Kudos: 164
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   23 Mar 2020, 00:31
daagh, no sir, I meant why option C and D are incorrect? As they set indicate subjunctive mood, I thought they made more sense than others.Am I missing something here? Thanks sir.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
L
daagh
GMAT Club Legend
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Status: enjoying
Posts: 5265
Own Kudos [?]: 42103 [3]
Given Kudos: 422
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Send PM
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 27 Mar 2020, 10:03
3
Kudos
Expert Reply
Top Contributor
Adi
If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining about them, he would have been a good student.

A. had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did complaining
B. had spent half as much time to attend his classes as he did to complain
C. were to spend as much time attending his classes as he does complaining
D. were to spend half as much time attending his classes as complaining
E. should spend half as much time attending his classes as to complain


C. were to spend as much time attending his classes as he does complaining
D. were to spend half as much time attending his classes as complaining

As far as I see, all the first four choices are essentially past subjunctive mood clauses. If you are asking why both the above choices are incorrect despite being subjunctive, then the answer lies in that, both of them flout the conditional norms.

Choices C and D are past subjunctive mood sentences as they talk about some unreal or impossible happenings that can not happen now, as the non-underlined part (would have been) points to a bygone event. However, the use of ‘would have been’ entails that the subordinate clause has to use a past perfect verb as - had spent - and not a simple past such as “were”. C is particularly more wrong as it says ‘as much time’ and not ‘half as much time’.


Originally posted by daagh on 23 Mar 2020, 02:06.
Last edited by daagh on 27 Mar 2020, 10:03, edited 2 times in total.
avatar
B
AdiBatman
Intern
Intern
Joined: 18 Feb 2020
Posts: 34
Own Kudos [?]: 10 [0]
Given Kudos: 164
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
Send PM
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   23 Mar 2020, 04:19
daagh sir, I got your point. Thanks a lot.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
P
Harsh2111s
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 08 May 2019
Posts: 322
Own Kudos [?]: 243 [0]
Given Kudos: 54
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Marketing
Schools: IIM (D) S.P.Jain Institute (A) XLRI IIML-IPMX '22 NUS '23
GPA: 4
WE:Manufacturing and Production (Manufacturing)
Send PM
Reviews Badge
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink] New post   27 Mar 2020, 09:51
globaldesi wrote:
rnn wrote:
why is B incorrect?


had spent half as much time to attend his classes as he did to complain
to attend and to complain are incorrect.
the sentence needs nouns here and to attend and to complain are acting as verb.


Without noun also sentence is making sense. Didn't get you.

Why option B is incorrect ?
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: If Charles had spent half as much time attending his classes as he did [#permalink]
27 Mar 2020, 09:51
 1   2   
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
6917 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
238 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions