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Bunuel, could you please give some examples where “being” is used in passive continuous tense where the phrase is correct?

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A discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin with the consideration of there being four principal osmolytes of saliva-- sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate.

(A) A discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin with the consideration of there being
(B) Beginning any discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must be the consideration of there being
(C) Any discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin with the consideration that there are
(D) To begin discussing fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands there must be a consideration of the fact that there are
(E) Any discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin by considering the existence of


 


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Pronouns + Meaning + Redundancy/Awkwardness

Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that any discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin by considering the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva.

    • A pronoun can only be used to refer to one noun in a sentence.
    • “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous tense must be justified in the context.
    • For referring to the method by which something is done, "by" is the preferred usage.


A. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "A discussion"; the use of "A" incorrectly implies that one particular discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin by considering the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva; the intended meaning of this sentence is that any discussion, whatsoever, of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands, must begin by considering the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva. Moreover, Option A further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "there being four principal osmolytes of saliva"; the use of "there" illogically implies that there is a physical location where the four principal osmolytes of saliva are; the intended meaning is that four principal osmolytes of saliva exist. Further, Option A uses the phrase "with the consideration" to refer to the method by which a discussion on fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin; please remember, for referring to the method by which something is done, "by" is the preferred usage. Additionally, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase “the consideration of there being”, leading to awkwardness; please remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense.

B. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "there being four principal osmolytes of saliva"; the use of "there" illogically implies that there is a physical location where the four principal osmolytes of saliva are; the intended meaning is that four principal osmolytes of saliva exist. Further, Option B uses the needlessly wordy phrase “the consideration of there being”, leading to awkwardness; please remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense.

C. Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "there are four principal osmolytes of saliva"; the use of "there" illogically implies that there is a physical location where the four principal osmolytes of saliva are; the intended meaning is that four principal osmolytes of saliva exist. Further, Option C uses the phrase "with the consideration" to refer to the method by which a discussion on fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin; please remember, for referring to the method by which something is done, "by" is the preferred usage. Additionally, Option C uses the needlessly wordy phrase “with the consideration that there are”, leading to awkwardness.

D. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "To begin discussing"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that in order to begin the act of discussing fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands, there must be a consideration of the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva; the intended meaning of this sentence is that any discussion that takes place regarding fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin by considering the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva. Moreover, Option D further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "there being four principal osmolytes"; the use of "there" illogically implies that there is a physical location where the four principal osmolytes of saliva are; the intended meaning is that four principal osmolytes of saliva exist. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the pronoun "there" both as a placeholder pronoun for the clause "To begin discussing..." and as an object pronoun for the hypothetical physical location of the four osmolytes of saliva; please remember, a pronoun can only be used to refer to one noun in a sentence. Additionally, Option E uses the needlessly wordy phrase “the consideration that there are”, leading to awkwardness.

E. Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "Any discussion...must begin"; the construction of this phrase and the use of "Any" convey the intended meaning of the sentence- that any discussion, whatsoever, that takes place regarding fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin by considering the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva. Moreover, Option E uses the phrase "the existence of...saliva", conveying the intended meaning- that four principal osmolytes of saliva exist. Further, Option E avoids the pronoun error seen in Option D by using the verb phrase “by considering the existence of…”, avoiding the use of “there”. Additionally, Option E uses the phrase "by considering" to refer to the method by which a discussion on fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin. Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

E is the best answer choice.
Hi team,

I cannot clearly understand why Option C is a trap, specifically why there means a place in that sentence.

According to Cambridge Dictionary (there adverb (INTRODUCING SUBJECT)), there can also be used to "introduce the subject of a sentence, especially before the verbs be, seem, and appear"
Ex. There's someone on the phone for you.

Here, in my opinion There is introducing the 4 subjects.

Could you please clarify?

Regards.
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Gio96
Bunuel
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A discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin with the consideration of there being four principal osmolytes of saliva-- sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate.

(A) A discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin with the consideration of there being
(B) Beginning any discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must be the consideration of there being
(C) Any discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin with the consideration that there are
(D) To begin discussing fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands there must be a consideration of the fact that there are
(E) Any discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin by considering the existence of


 


This Month's Questions are Sponsored by
Experts' Global for the GMAT Club SC Butler

 

Experts Global

 



Project SC Butler


For SC butler Questions Click Here

Expert's Global Official Explanation:

Pronouns + Meaning + Redundancy/Awkwardness

Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that any discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin by considering the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva.

    • A pronoun can only be used to refer to one noun in a sentence.
    • “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous tense must be justified in the context.
    • For referring to the method by which something is done, "by" is the preferred usage.


A. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "A discussion"; the use of "A" incorrectly implies that one particular discussion of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin by considering the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva; the intended meaning of this sentence is that any discussion, whatsoever, of fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands, must begin by considering the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva. Moreover, Option A further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "there being four principal osmolytes of saliva"; the use of "there" illogically implies that there is a physical location where the four principal osmolytes of saliva are; the intended meaning is that four principal osmolytes of saliva exist. Further, Option A uses the phrase "with the consideration" to refer to the method by which a discussion on fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin; please remember, for referring to the method by which something is done, "by" is the preferred usage. Additionally, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase “the consideration of there being”, leading to awkwardness; please remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense.

B. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "there being four principal osmolytes of saliva"; the use of "there" illogically implies that there is a physical location where the four principal osmolytes of saliva are; the intended meaning is that four principal osmolytes of saliva exist. Further, Option B uses the needlessly wordy phrase “the consideration of there being”, leading to awkwardness; please remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense.

C. Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "there are four principal osmolytes of saliva"; the use of "there" illogically implies that there is a physical location where the four principal osmolytes of saliva are; the intended meaning is that four principal osmolytes of saliva exist. Further, Option C uses the phrase "with the consideration" to refer to the method by which a discussion on fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin; please remember, for referring to the method by which something is done, "by" is the preferred usage. Additionally, Option C uses the needlessly wordy phrase “with the consideration that there are”, leading to awkwardness.

D. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "To begin discussing"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that in order to begin the act of discussing fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands, there must be a consideration of the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva; the intended meaning of this sentence is that any discussion that takes place regarding fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin by considering the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva. Moreover, Option D further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "there being four principal osmolytes"; the use of "there" illogically implies that there is a physical location where the four principal osmolytes of saliva are; the intended meaning is that four principal osmolytes of saliva exist. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the pronoun "there" both as a placeholder pronoun for the clause "To begin discussing..." and as an object pronoun for the hypothetical physical location of the four osmolytes of saliva; please remember, a pronoun can only be used to refer to one noun in a sentence. Additionally, Option E uses the needlessly wordy phrase “the consideration that there are”, leading to awkwardness.

E. Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "Any discussion...must begin"; the construction of this phrase and the use of "Any" convey the intended meaning of the sentence- that any discussion, whatsoever, that takes place regarding fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin by considering the existence of four principal osmolytes of saliva. Moreover, Option E uses the phrase "the existence of...saliva", conveying the intended meaning- that four principal osmolytes of saliva exist. Further, Option E avoids the pronoun error seen in Option D by using the verb phrase “by considering the existence of…”, avoiding the use of “there”. Additionally, Option E uses the phrase "by considering" to refer to the method by which a discussion on fluid and electrolyte secretion in salivary glands must begin. Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

E is the best answer choice.
Hi team,

I cannot clearly understand why Option C is a trap, specifically why there means a place in that sentence.

According to Cambridge Dictionary (there adverb (INTRODUCING SUBJECT)), there can also be used to "introduce the subject of a sentence, especially before the verbs be, seem, and appear"
Ex. There's someone on the phone for you.

Here, in my opinion There is introducing the 4 subjects.

Could you please clarify?

Regards.

Hello Gio96,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, "there" can indeed be used to introduce subjects, but its use in this context can also be interpreted in the way described above, creating an ambiguity of meaning that is not there in the correct answer choice - Option E; in any case, the construction "considering the existence of" is much more direct and concise than "the consideration that there are".

We hope this helps.
All the best!
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