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Re: Mistake In GMATCLUB free verbal set
[#permalink]
10 May 2015, 09:42
the "rule" is:
* POSSESSIVE NOUN with NON-POSSESSIVE PRONOUN is NOT OK.
BUT
ALL OTHER COMBINATIONS are ok.
i.e.
possessive noun with possessive pronoun is ok.
non-possessive noun with non-possessive pronoun is ok.
non-possessive noun with possessive pronoun is ok.
that's the complete version of the "rule" -- which, not surprisingly, tends to confuse a lot more than it tends to enlighten. also, although it may let you eliminate one answer choice here and there, it has NEVER actually been required to solve an official problem.
so:
ONLY use this "rule" if you understand it 100.0000%. if there is absolutely any confusion at all, just ignore this rule and pretend that you have never seen it.
what is perhaps most interesting is that gmac itself is starting to distance itself from this rule.
if you look at problem #86 in the FIRST edition verbal supplement (the purple book), the answer key declares, very explicitly, that the pronoun "grammatically ... CANNOT" refer to the possessive noun.
on the other hand, if you open your second edition verbal review (the blue one) to #81, you will find that the explanation has been completely revised -- completely removing all traces of these claims, and replacing them"”eyes darting nervously around the room"”with "grammatically its referent is somewhat unclear".
in other words, even gmac doesn't endorse this "rule" anymore.
ignore.
forever.