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Shakespeare’s Hamlet was based on a style of morality plays, wherein personifications of vice and virtue fight over a man’s soul; Shakespeare’s originality lay in the fact that he integrated these personifications into the internal psyche of the protagonist.

(A) lay in the fact that he integrated these ~ Incorrect "that he integrate these"
(B) lay in the fact of his integrating these ~ Incorrect use of "his "
(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these ~ Incorrect use of "his "
(D) lay in his integration of these ~ Correct usage of tense and these
(E) laid in his integration of these ~ Incorrect use of past tense laid

IMO Choice D.
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(A) "laid" should be used. Also use of "in the fact" is unnecessary and wordy. Hence wrong option.

(B) "laid" should be used. Also use of "in the fact" is unnecessary and wordy. Hence wrong option

(C) Use of "in the fact" is unnecessary and wordy. Hence wrong option.

(D) "laid" should be used. Hence wrong option.

(E) correct use of tense and meaning is also clear. "Shakespeare’s originality" was in "his integration of...." Hence correct answer.

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Shakespeare’s Hamlet was based on a style of morality plays, wherein personifications of vice and virtue fight over a man’s soul; Shakespeare’s originality lay in the fact that he integrated these personifications into the internal psyche of the protagonist.

(A) lay in the fact that he integrated these— lay is plural whereas subject is singular
(B) lay in the fact of his integrating these- lay is plural whereas subject is singular
(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these— of his integrating is incorrect
(D) lay in his integration of these- lay is plural whereas subject is singular
(E) laid in his integration of these- use of past tense is correct and this version is concise

ans E

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Shakespeare’s Hamlet was based on a style of morality plays, wherein personifications of vice and virtue fight over a man’s soul; Shakespeare’s originality lay in the fact that he integrated these personifications into the internal psyche of the protagonist.

(A) lay in the fact that he integrated these - he has no antecedent
(B) lay in the fact of his integrating these - fact of his integrating is awkward
(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these - past laid does not match with present tense of fights in previous clause
(D) lay in his integration of these - correct
(E) laid in his integration of these - past laid does not match with present tense of fights in previous clause
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We use past simple tense. Past tense of “lay” is “laid” -> A, B, D are rejected.
(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these
Lay in sth -> “The fact of” seems to be redundant. Besides, GMAT prefers a noun to V-ing -> We use “integration” instead of “integrating”
(E) laid in his integration of these -> correct

The answer is (E)
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Shakespeare’s Hamlet was based on a style of morality plays, wherein personifications of vice and virtue fight over a man’s soul; Shakespeare’s originality lay in the fact that he integrated these personifications into the internal psyche of the protagonist.

(A) lay in the fact that he integrated these--Shakespeare’s..so he is wrong here
(B) lay in the fact of his integrating these--wordy...wrong
(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these--laid past tense is wrong here
(D) lay in his integration of these--correct
(E) laid in his integration of these---same as c
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(A) lay in the fact that he integrated these
Even though A is grammatically correct. It sounds wordy when compared to option D which is much more concise. Eliminate

(B) lay in the fact of his integrating these
Again this option is too wordy and repetitive. Eliminate

(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these
Past tense Laid is used here which is incorrect to state a general fact. Eliminate

(D) lay in his integration of these
This option is clear, concise and grammatically correct. Hence correct choice

(E) laid in his integration of these
same error as in C. Eliminate
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Shakespeare’s Hamlet was based on a style of morality plays, wherein personifications of vice and virtue fight over a man’s soul; Shakespeare’s originality lay in the fact that he integrated these personifications into the internal psyche of the protagonist.

(A) lay in the fact that he integrated these
(B) lay in the fact of his integrating these
(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these
(D) lay in his integration of these
(E) laid in his integration of these


 


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(A) lay in the fact that he integrated these ( Use of present tense to convey a general statement is correct here. And for that clause, integrated is in past tense which agrees with the structure of the sentence )
(B) lay in the fact of his integrating these ('of his integrating these' is wrong prepositional phrase)
(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these ( Use of past tense to convey a general statement is incorrect here. Also 'of his integrating these' is wrong prepositional phrase)
(D) lay in his integration of these (Shakespeare’s originality doesn't lay in his integration but in the fact that that he integrated these personifications into the internal psyche of the protagonist)
(E) laid in his integration of these (Same as C & E)
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Quote:
Shakespeare’s Hamlet was based on a style of morality plays, wherein personifications of vice and virtue fight over a man’s soul; Shakespeare’s originality lay in the fact that he integrated these personifications into the internal psyche of the protagonist.

(A) lay in the fact that he integrated these
-Suspected to be correct.
Rationale: This option refers to Shakespeare's originality. The word "integrated" is in past tense.


(B) lay in the fact of his integrating these
-Suspected to be incorrect.
Rationale: The word "integrating" is in present continuous tense, and is being used as a present participle.


(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these
-Suspected to be incorrect.
Rationale: The word "integrating" is in present continuous tense, and being used as a present participle.


(D) lay in his integration of these
-Suspected to be incorrect.
Rationale: The words "lay" and "integration" are both active tenses.


(E) laid in his integration of these
-Suspected to be incorrect.
Rationale: The word "laid" is past tense, yet "integration" is active.
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KarishmaB MartyTargetTestPrep why is 'in the fact that' wrong and when is it considered correct?
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Elite097
why is 'in the fact that' wrong and when is it considered correct?
The meaning of that version doesn't make sense since his originality did not lay in that fact.

Rather, his originality lay in his actions or creations, as the (D) version communicates in saying, "Shakespeare’s originality lay in his integration of these personifications into the internal psyche of the protagonist."
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