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A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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13 Apr 2013, 06:42
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A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches, bridges, and walls made of artificial bone could be easier to design and build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing how their idea would work.
(A) build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing (B) build than conventional structures, and they have already designed a number of structures, which includes a bridge, to show (C) build than conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, to show (D) also to build than conventional structures, already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows (E) to build than with conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows
(A) build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing (B) build than conventional structures, and they have already designed a number of structures, which includes a bridge, to show (C) build than conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, to show (D) also to build than conventional structures, already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows (E) to build than with conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows
"A pair of architects in Britain, (...) , and already designed/and they have already" are wrong, the last part cannot follow the first part. Subject , (...), verb is the structure. The same reasoning can be applied to D. Only C and E respect that structure. E is not the correct answer because:1) comparison "giant arches made of artificial bone could be easier to design than with conventional structures" 2)use of "which" that modifies "bridge" (which cannot show how their idea works).
Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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29 Apr 2013, 22:14
Zarrolou wrote:
A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches, bridges, and walls made of artificial bone could be easier to design and build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing how their idea would work.
(A) build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing (B) build than conventional structures, and they have already designed a number of structures, which includes a bridge, to show (C) build than conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, to show (D) also to build than conventional structures, already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows (E) to build than with conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows
"A pair of architects in Britain, (...) , and already designed/and they have already" are wrong, the last part cannot follow the first part. Subject , (...), verb is the structure. The same reasoning can be applied to D. Only C and E respect that structure. E is not the correct answer because:1) comparison "giant arches made of artificial bone could be easier to design than with conventional structures" 2)use of "which" that modifies "bridge" (which cannot show how their idea works).
To begin with, kindly do not highlight the words in the question...thats not how its going to come in the GMAT.. you can draw attention towards the words late in the answer explanations if u want..and i think the OA is wrong..."a pair" is a collective noun and hence singular not plural...so the answer should have "has" and not "have"..
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Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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01 May 2013, 02:23
Now on to sub-verb agreement: For the argument that the subject is the singular a pair, May I ask to read the entire text and look for further clues( especially in the non-underlined part) as to whether the subject is singular or plural. This kind of error is easy meat for GMAT, for many jumps to wrong conclusions with just a casual glance
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Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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02 May 2013, 22:52
1
Zarrolou wrote:
A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches, bridges, and walls made of artificial bone could be easier to design and build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing how their idea would work.
(A) build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing (B) build than conventional structures, and they have already designed a number of structures, which includes a bridge, to show (C) build than conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, to show (D) also to build than conventional structures, already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows (E) to build than with conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows
"A pair of architects in Britain, (...) , and already designed/and they have already" are wrong, the last part cannot follow the first part. Subject , (...), verb is the structure. The same reasoning can be applied to D. Only C and E respect that structure. E is not the correct answer because:1) comparison "giant arches made of artificial bone could be easier to design than with conventional structures" 2)use of "which" that modifies "bridge" (which cannot show how their idea works).
now this is GMAT like question....and preety well explained by Zarrolou,,but i am also not clear whether a pair of architects is singular or plural.. although i know " a set of mutants" is singular...but here where i am going wrong.
Zarrolou and Daagh ...i request to explain this.
thanks
SKM
_________________
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GIVE VALUE TO OFFICIAL QUESTIONS...
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Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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02 May 2013, 23:06
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shaileshmishra wrote:
now this is GMAT like question....and preety well explained by Zarrolou,,but i am also not clear whether a pair of architects is singular or plural.. although i know " a set of mutants" is singular...but here where i am going wrong.
Zarrolou and Daagh ...i request to explain this.
thanks
SKM
Before answering I just want to point out that someone must have deleted the original question, because my post is the answer, not the question!
shaileshmishra, you may find this helpful:
Usage Note: The noun pair can be followed by a singular or plural verb. The singular is always used when pair denotes the set taken as a single entity: This pair of shoes is on sale. A plural verb is used when the members are considered as individuals: The pair are working more harmoniously now. After a number other than one, pair itself can be either singular or plural, but the plural is now more common: She bought six pairs (or pair) of stockings.
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Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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02 May 2013, 23:09
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@skm
The non-underlined part clearly says- how their idea would work? What does that ‘their’ refer to? It is not going to be bridges or structures or any other inanimate noun for that matter. It has to be only the pair of architects. When the text itself calls it plural, how can we doubt it? That is the reason; I asked to read the entire text for some veritable clues. So going along the context is the right track
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Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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02 May 2013, 23:22
Zarrolou wrote:
Before answering I just want to point out that someone must have deleted the original question, because my post is the answer, not the question!
shaileshmishra, you may find this helpful:
Usage Note: The noun pair can be followed by a singular or plural verb. The singular is always used when pair denotes the set taken as a single entity: This pair of shoes is on sale. A plural verb is used when the members are considered as individuals: The pair are working more harmoniously now. After a number other than one, pair itself can be either singular or plural, but the plural is now more common: She bought six pairs (or pair) of stockings.
sorry mate but not preety clear as when i am unable to distinguish when it is acting as a set and when acting as a individual...but if possible can please give some more examples....
but thanks...
although daagh explanation i got preety clear...it was the catch in the non underlined portion...
thanks to both of you
SKM
_________________
When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe ...then you will be successfull....
GIVE VALUE TO OFFICIAL QUESTIONS...
GMAT RCs VOCABULARY LIST: http://gmatclub.com/forum/vocabulary-list-for-gmat-reading-comprehension-155228.html learn AWA writing techniques while watching video : http://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-analytical-writing-assessment : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APt9ITygGss
Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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03 May 2013, 00:53
Zarrolou wrote:
shaileshmishra wrote:
now this is GMAT like question....and preety well explained by Zarrolou,,but i am also not clear whether a pair of architects is singular or plural.. although i know " a set of mutants" is singular...but here where i am going wrong.
Zarrolou and Daagh ...i request to explain this.
thanks
SKM
Before answering I just want to point out that someone must have deleted the original question, because my post is the answer, not the question!
shaileshmishra, you may find this helpful:
Usage Note: The noun pair can be followed by a singular or plural verb. The singular is always used when pair denotes the set taken as a single entity: This pair of shoes is on sale. A plural verb is used when the members are considered as individuals: The pair are working more harmoniously now. After a number other than one, pair itself can be either singular or plural, but the plural is now more common: She bought six pairs (or pair) of stockings.
hi Zarrolou and daagh, I think pair goes singular only when we talk about items that consist of both things. What I'm trying to say is that if we say a pair of socks or shoes or lenses then both things form whatever we're talking about. A pair of architects doesn't form any such thing.
hope i am correct... please suggest
SKM
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When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe ...then you will be successfull....
GIVE VALUE TO OFFICIAL QUESTIONS...
GMAT RCs VOCABULARY LIST: http://gmatclub.com/forum/vocabulary-list-for-gmat-reading-comprehension-155228.html learn AWA writing techniques while watching video : http://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-analytical-writing-assessment : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APt9ITygGss
Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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03 May 2013, 01:01
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shaileshmishra wrote:
Hi,
sorry mate but not preety clear as when i am unable to distinguish when it is acting as a set and when acting as a individual...but if possible can please give some more examples....
but thanks...
although daagh explanation i got preety clear...it was the catch in the non underlined portion...
thanks to both of you
SKM
This is beyond the question.
The usage of pair is not 100% clear, I checked a number of sites and a Rule for its usage it's not unanimous. Having said so I think that my previous post should be a good rule:
"The singular is always used when pair denotes the set taken as a single entity". No doubt here, "a pair of scissors" denotes a single entity and requires a "is" as verb. "A plural verb is used when the members are considered as individuals". When you can "split" the members as in this case ("a pair of architects" is not a single set like the scissors) you can use a plural verb. However, and this is the point, in this case both is/are seem correct.
This is what I've found in many web sites. Hope this helps...
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Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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03 May 2013, 01:18
Zarrolou wrote:
shaileshmishra wrote:
Hi,
sorry mate but not preety clear as when i am unable to distinguish when it is acting as a set and when acting as a individual...but if possible can please give some more examples....
but thanks...
although daagh explanation i got preety clear...it was the catch in the non underlined portion...
thanks to both of you
SKM
This is beyond the question.
The usage of pair is not 100% clear, I checked a number of sites and a Rule for its usage it's not unanimous. Having said so I think that my previous post should be a good rule:
"The singular is always used when pair denotes the set taken as a single entity". No doubt here, "a pair of scissors" denotes a single entity and requires a "is" as verb. "A plural verb is used when the members are considered as individuals". When you can "split" the members as in this case ("a pair of architects" is not a single set like the scissors) you can use a plural verb. However, and this is the point, in this case both is/are seem correct.
This is what I've found in many web sites. Hope this helps...
ya zarrolou.....it seems gud....let me encounter some more problem basing this.... thanks anyways...
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Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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04 May 2013, 23:13
clearly say is mentioned in non-underlined part of sentence which indicates a pair is a plural here.. Giving equal importance to non underlined part plays key role in many meaning based SC questions
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Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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04 May 2013, 23:39
I only said context decides the number in certain cases. Zarrolou has gone a step ahead and elaborated on the plausible contexts. His explanation is more wholesome and focused .
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Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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19 Jun 2013, 17:43
shaileshmishra wrote:
Zarrolou wrote:
A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches, bridges, and walls made of artificial bone could be easier to design and build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing how their idea would work.
(A) build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing (B) build than conventional structures, and they have already designed a number of structures, which includes a bridge, to show (C) build than conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, to show (D) also to build than conventional structures, already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows (E) to build than with conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows
"A pair of architects in Britain, (...) , and already designed/and they have already" are wrong, the last part cannot follow the first part. Subject , (...), verb is the structure. The same reasoning can be applied to D. Only C and E respect that structure. E is not the correct answer because:1) comparison "giant arches made of artificial bone could be easier to design than with conventional structures" 2)use of "which" that modifies "bridge" (which cannot show how their idea works).
now this is GMAT like question....and preety well explained by Zarrolou,,but i am also not clear whether a pair of architects is singular or plural.. although i know " a set of mutants" is singular...but here where i am going wrong.
Zarrolou and Daagh ...i request to explain this.
thanks
SKM
Please explain why and is wrong in B and already wrong in D
Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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19 Jun 2013, 22:02
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rrkan wrote:
shaileshmishra wrote:
Zarrolou wrote:
A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches, bridges, and walls made of artificial bone could be easier to design and build than conventional structures,and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing how their idea would work.
(A) build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing (B) build than conventional structures, and they have already designed a number of structures, which includes a bridge, to show (C) build than conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, to show (D) also to build than conventional structures, already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows (E) to build than with conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows
"A pair of architects in Britain, (...) , and already designed/and they have already" are wrong, the last part cannot follow the first part. Subject , (...), verb is the structure. The same reasoning can be applied to D. Only C and E respect that structure. E is not the correct answer because:1) comparison "giant arches made of artificial bone could be easier to design than with conventional structures" 2)use of "which" that modifies "bridge" (which cannot show how their idea works).
now this is GMAT like question....and preety well explained by Zarrolou,,but i am also not clear whether a pair of architects is singular or plural.. although i know " a set of mutants" is singular...but here where i am going wrong.
Zarrolou and Daagh ...i request to explain this.
thanks
SKM
Please explain why and is wrong in B and already wrong in D
hi rrkan,
the original given sentence is as follows: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches, bridges, and walls made of artificial bone could be easier to design and [u]build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing how their idea would work. the coloured part starting with "who say .....than conventional structures"...actually this whole part is acting as a modifier and it is modifying a pair of architects. now good thing with modifier is that if you remove the modifier from the sentence then also sentence must make sense. now lets remove this modifier and hence resulting sentence will become like this: A pair of architects in Britain and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing how their idea would work. now reading the sentence do you think does this makes sense. the use of parallelism marker AND conveys that both side of the and should be parallel but here A pair of architects in Britain and already designed a number of structures is not parallel ALSO THERE IS NO MAIN VERB TOO IN THIS SENTENCE. hence use of and is wrong. in the same way option B is also wrong. again now in option D after removing the modifier the resulting sentence becomes: A pair of architects in Britain already designed a number of structures, including a bridge,which shows how their idea would work. now if you read the above sentence then you will find that there is no verb in the sentence for the subject "a pair of architect" and the use of HAVE before already rectifies this error which is done in option C. so in this case use of already is not wrong but rather highlighted already indicates that a verb is required before already. SKM KUDOS IF IT HELPED.
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Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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01 Jul 2013, 06:36
A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches, bridges, and walls made of artificial bone could be easier to design and build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing how their idea would work.
(A) build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing (B) build than conventional structures, and they have already designed a number of structures, which includes a bridge, to show (C) build than conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, to show (D) also to build than conventional structures, already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows ( and also is redundant) (E) to build than with conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows
This is a good question. The trick here read without the fluff as this sentence has a massive "who clause"
You need easier to design and build
A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches, bridges, and walls made of artificial bone could be easier to design and build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing how their idea would work.
Now the subject is a pair of architects where's the verb? if we have ", and " that starts another independent clause so you need a subject verb for that
Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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02 Dec 2017, 07:59
Zarrolou wrote:
A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches, bridges, and walls made of artificial bone could be easier to design and build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing how their idea would work.
(A) build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing (B) build than conventional structures, and they have already designed a number of structures, which includes a bridge, to show (C) build than conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, to show (D) also to build than conventional structures, already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows (E) to build than with conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows
(A) build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing (B) build than conventional structures, and they have already designed a number of structures, which includes a bridge, to show (C) build than conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, to show (D) also to build than conventional structures, already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows (E) to build than with conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows
"A pair of architects in Britain, (...) , and already designed/and they have already" are wrong, the last part cannot follow the first part. Subject , (...), verb is the structure. The same reasoning can be applied to D. Only C and E respect that structure. E is not the correct answer because:1) comparison "giant arches made of artificial bone could be easier to design than with conventional structures" 2)use of "which" that modifies "bridge" (which cannot show how their idea works).
Great Q. Helps to develop a better understanding of use of 'pair' as plural vs. singular.
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Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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08 Jan 2019, 05:59
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Before we want to attempt this question, let's remember one basic discipline.
The greatest thumb rule is that from the first minute when you begin to prepare for GMAT, you had better accept GMAT's view as correct. Seriously, if it says a pair is singular, it is singular, and if it says, a pair is plural, then it is plural. There is no second opinion about it.
Any criticism of GMAT's perception is best left to the greats such as the Rons, the Staceys, the Mikes or the Ninjas. All we have to do is to find the best of the five choices taking into account the context.
Any habit of wasting time on the veracity of GMAT's writing will be a colossal blunder in the Hall.
The takeaway is-- What is the harm in taking the GMAT questions in "as is what is" condition and in concentrating on the five choices? (This suggestion holds good only for GMAT questions.)
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you can know a lot about something but not really understand it."-- a quote No one knows this better than a GMAT student does. Narendran +9198845 44509
Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches,
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15 Jan 2019, 20:18
A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches, bridges, and walls made of artificial bone could be easier to design and build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing how their idea would work.
(A) build than conventional structures, and already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, for showing (B) build than conventional structures, and they have already designed a number of structures, which includes a bridge, to show (C) build than conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, to show (D) also to build than conventional structures, already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows (E) to build than with conventional structures, have already designed a number of structures, including a bridge, which shows
look at choice D " a bridge, which shows' is a bridge we already know that this bridge shows. this meaning is not fit in the context of the sentence. D is gone if we have " a bridge that shows", we have to understand that there are many bridges and we mention the bridge that shows... . also this meaning is not fit to the sentence.
difference between " that shows " and " which shows" is hard but gmat never test us this difference.
gmatclubot
Re: A pair of architects in Britain, who say that giant arches, &nbs
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15 Jan 2019, 20:18
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77% (00:57) correct 
