Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
ongste wrote:
Despite recent increases in sales and cash flow that have propelled automobile companies’ common stocks to new highs, several industry analysts expect automakers, in order to conserve cash, to set dividends more conservatively than they were.
(A) to set dividends more conservatively than they were
(B) to set dividends more conservatively than they have been
(C) to be more conservative than they have been in setting dividends
(D) that they will be more conservative than they were in setting dividends
(E) that they will be more conservative than they have been to set dividends
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that several industry analysts expect automakers to be more conservative than they have been in setting dividends.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses• The infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - " to + set" in this sentence) is the preferred construction for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.
• The present perfect continuous tense (marked by "has/have been") is the correct tense to refer to actions that started in past and continue into the present.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
• The correct present perfect continuous tense verb construction is ("have + been + present participle - "verb+ing").
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "were" to refer to an action that began in the past and continues into the present; please remember, the present perfect continuous tense (marked by "has/have been") is the correct tense to refer to actions that started in past and continue into the present, and the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
B: This answer choice fails to maintain the correct present perfect continuous tense verb construction ("have + been + present participle - "verb+ing"), as it omits the present participle; please remember, the correct present perfect continuous tense verb construction is ("have + been + present participle - "verb+ing").
C: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrases "to be more conservative" and "in setting dividends", conveying the intended meaning - that several industry analysts expect automakers to be more conservative in the act of setting dividends than they have been in the same. Further, Option C correctly uses the present perfect continuous tense verb "have been...setting" to refer to an action that began in the past and continues into the present. Moreover, Option C maintains the correct present perfect tense construction ("have + been + present participle ("verb+ing" - "setting" in this sentence).
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "that they will be more conservative"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning - that intended meaning is that several industry analysts expect automakers to be more conservative than they have been in setting dividends. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "were" to refer to an action that began in the past and continues into the present; please remember, the present perfect continuous tense (marked by "has/have been") is the correct tense to refer to actions that started in past and continue into the present, and the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "that they will be more conservative"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning - that intended meaning is that several industry analysts expect automakers to be more conservative than they have been in setting dividends. Moreover, Option E further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "to set dividends"; the use of the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - " to + set" in this sentence) incorrectly implies that automakers will be more conservative than they have been
in general for the
purpose of setting dividends; the intended meaning is that automakers will be more conservative
in the act of setting dividends than they have been
in the same; please remember, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - " to + set" in this sentence) is the preferred construction for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.
Hence, C is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Perfect Continuous Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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