Although the coordination of monetary policy can help facilitate the

Hey All,

Everybody's pretty much talked this one to death, but I got asked by PM to take on one particular issue, so I'll just run through all the answer choices, while I'm here.

Although the coordination of monetary policy can help facilitate the orderly financing of existing imbalances, it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant in the absence of an appropriate fiscal adjustment.

(A) it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant

PROBLEM: The use of "it" here twice to mean two different things is grammatically unfeasible. The first "it" has no referent (That's the "it" we use to start out clauses, such as "It's crazy how much fire there is in here."), and the second refers to "the coordination..."

(B) it is unlikely that the size of their effect would be significant

PROBLEM: We want to imply the effect on the size of imbalances, not the size of the effect.

(C) affecting their sizes are not likely to be significant

PROBLEM: The subject of "are" here is...what? Maybe "affecting"...doesn't make any sense.

(D) the significance of their effect on its size is unlikely

PROBLEM: We don't mean the significance is unlikely, but that it's unlikely to be significant.

(E) its effect on their size is not likely to be significant

ANSWER: Isn't it pretty? Like in ALL the answer choices, the "its" refers to "the coordination...".

Hope that helps!

-t

(A) is wrong because of the wrong usage of present tense "is" - likely / unlikely depicts a future event, and hence "will be" should be used.

...it is unlikely that its effect on their size is WILL BE significant...

A has amiguity, it and its.

And what about the idiom?
According to Manhattan SC, the idiom is either "likely to" or "likely that X will". Taking this into account, you can choose E quickly.
Thanks.

Hey Noboru,

It helps a bit, but it doesn't get you right down to E. As far as I can see, C would work, too. Still, getting rid of three answer choices is pretty good.

-t

In this other post: sc-gmatprep-1-federal-reserve-76040-20.html#p757216
I have thrown a question regarding the usage of "it" that you explain above.
Many thanks for your comments.

Hey Noburu,

I'll post the same response in both places, just in case. However, I believe that I'm entirely consistent in these two examples. It's okay to start a sentence/clause with it, as in: "It sure is raining a lot today." Yes, that "it" has no antecedent, but we allow this usage. In the example you cite here, the problem in answer choice A is not the first "it", but the second "it", which could be referring to "coordination" or "orderly financing". Though ambiguity is an issue that GMAT sometimes ignores and sometimes doesn't, it's clearly better here to get rid of that extra pronoun. Remember that we ALSO have a "their", which makes for three pronouns in 8 words (in answer choice A).

Hope that's clearer!

-t

sayantanc2k
I m confused between A and E. Both seem correct to me. please help.

but, Both option A and E use "is" ...... How is E better than A?

No, option E does not have "is" inside likely. You are talking about the verb "is" that is outside likely and is there in both options. The problematic "is" in option A is replaced with "to be" in option E.

A) it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant
E) its effect on their size is not likely to be significant

The blue font "is" could be any tense - this verb is not the verb whose likelihood is discussed. The red "is" the problem because the likelihood of this red "is" is discussed and hence must be in future ( or infinitive as in option E).

The two correct forms are:
likely that <future>
likely <infinitive>

Although the coordination of monetary policy can help facilitate the orderly financing of existing imbalances, it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant in the absence of an appropriate fiscal adjustment.

(A) it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant ---unlikely' a future feature doesn't gel with the present 'is' -- out

(B) it is unlikely that the size of their effect would be significant-- We must pair 'its' with 'effect' and 'their' with 'size'. out

(C) affecting their sizes are not likely to be significant, --- Affecting their sizes and are is an S-V error. out.

(D) the significance of their effect on its size is unlikely-- As in B: We must pair 'its' with 'effect' and 'their' with 'size'. -- out.

(E) its effect on their size is not likely to be significant -- correct
_________________

Although the coordination of monetary policy can help facilitate the orderly financing of existing imbalances, it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant in the absence of an appropriate fiscal adjustment.


(A) it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant

(B) it is unlikely that the size of their effect would be significant

(C) affecting their sizes are not likely to be significant

(D) the significance of their effect on its size is unlikely

(E) its effect on their size is not likely to be significant




As per MGMAT staff TommyWallach , the reason to eliminate option A is two instances of pronoun 'it' referring to two different things.(One is a placeholder and other refers to a noun)
But in this official question, the above reasoning does not seem to be valid.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/it-was-only- ... 24268.html

It was only after Katharine Graham became publisher of The Washington Post in 1963 that it moved into the first rank of American newspapers, and it was under her command that the paper won high praises for its unrelenting reporting of the Watergate scandal.

Although I chose option E, I could not eliminate option A with conviction.

AjiteshArun , GMATNinja , MagooshExpert , GMATGuruNY , VeritasPrepBrian , MartyTargetTestPrep , DmitryFarber , VeritasKarishma , generis , EducationAisle , other experts - please enlighten
_________________

Language is used to communicate so the clearer it is, the better it is for the reader. The so called "rules" tell us what is better, how to avoid ambiguity etc. If something follows logically and naturally, it is considered acceptable. The point in sentence correction is this - which is the best option (of the five given) to put this thought across?

(A) it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant

Has a placeholder "it" in the middle of the sentence (which is a bit confusing to figure out)
Uses it as a placeholder and "its" as a pronoun within a few words of each other - again somewhat confusing
Uses "is" for a possible future.
"Although the policy can help facilitate ... it is unlikely that its effect is significant ..."
It should be "it is unlikely that its effect will be significant ..." - whatever effect will be, will be in the future.

(E) its effect on their size is not likely to be significant

Gets rid of the placeholder "it".
Brings in future sense with "not likely to be..."

Note that I am not clear about what "its" refers to here also, but every option has "its effect on their size" so it is not my decision point at all. I will not waste time on it.

I will certainly prefer (E) here.
_________________

I agree that the two instances of "it" are a strike against choice (A). But there's another subtle difference between (A) and (E).

The sentence starts with "Although the coordination of monetary policy can help facilitate..." - so we aren't talking about a specific instance of "coordination" that has already happened and whether the effect of that coordination IS significant. Instead, we are saying that coordination CAN help (a hypothetical). So IF there is coordination, its effect is likely TO BE significant.

• "(A) Although the coordination of monetary policy can help facilitate the orderly financing of existing imbalances, it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant in the absence of an appropriate fiscal adjustment." - This implies that the coordination has already happened (or is happening) and that the effect of that coordination IS currently significant. Given the hypothetical nature of the opening clause, this structure isn't quite appropriate.
• "(E) Although the coordination of monetary policy can help facilitate the orderly financing of existing imbalances, its effect on their size is not likely to be significant in the absence of an appropriate fiscal adjustment." - We aren't saying that the effect is already significant. We are saying that the effect WOULD likely be significant if the coordination takes place. Given the hypothetical nature of the opening clause, this structure is more appropriate.

(E) is clearer and more logical, so it's the best choice.

I hope that helps!
_________________

thru PoE I ended up with E, but still have a question concerning the Grammar rule behind "is .. to be"



Could anyone point out what's a rule in English Grammar behind this usage? Thank you in advance?

A is incorrect and would sound like this "the coordination is unlikely that the coordination's effect on imbalances' size is..."

B incorrectly points "the coordination" to size

C is wrong because it removes everything from the original meaning

D incorrectly points "imbalances effect on the coordination's size"

E is a solid choice "The coordination's effect on the imbalances' size is not likely to be significant."

Although the coordination of monetary policy can help facilitate the orderly financing of existing imbalances, it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant in the absence of an appropriate fiscal adjustment.


sentence structure: Although X is bad, X is desirable
In sentences that start with "although ..something.." followed by a comma, the subject right after the comma should point back to ..something..
In this sentence,
Although the coordination of monetary policy...., the coordination of monetary policy.... is the correct answer choice
Based on this, answer E is the only option that maintains this structure. Therefore, E is correct

(A) it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant
What does "it" refers to?

(B) it is unlikely that the size of their effect would be significant
What does "it" refers to? Also, this changes meaning. "size of their effect" is not equal to "effect on their size"

(C) affecting their sizes are not likely to be significant
What is "affecting" modifying?

(D) the significance of their effect on its size is unlikely
Changes meaning.

(E) its effect on their size is not likely to be significant
Correct!
_________________

Although the coordination of monetary policy can help facilitate the orderly financing of existing imbalances, it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant in the absence of an appropriate fiscal adjustment.

Option Elimination -

(A) it is unlikely that its effect on their size is significant - the first "it" is a placeholder, and the second "it" refers back to the subject of the earlier clause, i.e., the coordination - use of "it" for two reasons in the single clause is confusing (the reference of one "it" to the previous clause adds to the mess).

(B) it is unlikely that the size of their effect would be significant - opposite relationship. "their" should be "it's referring to the coordination," and it should be its effect on their (existing imbalances), not the other way round. Moreover, the size...would be significant - ridiculous. The original meaning meant that its effect is not likely to be significant.

(C) affecting their sizes are not likely to be significant - Affecting (S) are (Plural) - SV disagreement.

(D) the significance of their effect on its size is unlikely - two issues. One is the same as B - opposite relationship. Secondly, saying "the significance is unlikely" is wrong. The right meaning is "Its effect is unlikely."

(E) its effect on their size is not likely to be significant - We don't have the "it" issue. Verb is "is" and "to be" is an Infinitve acting to show the intenet and expected outcome.