Last visit was: 08 Jul 2025, 20:10 It is currently 08 Jul 2025, 20:10
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
eyunni
Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Last visit: 25 Sep 2008
Posts: 251
Own Kudos:
3,270
 [50]
Posts: 251
Kudos: 3,270
 [50]
10
Kudos
Add Kudos
40
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
bkk145
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Last visit: 23 Feb 2014
Posts: 647
Own Kudos:
1,718
 [6]
Posts: 647
Kudos: 1,718
 [6]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
rgajare14
Joined: 02 Aug 2007
Last visit: 19 Nov 2013
Posts: 296
Own Kudos:
213
 [5]
Location: Greater New York City area
Concentration: Consulting, Marketing
Schools:Tuck, Ross (R1), Duke, Tepper, ISB (R2), Kenan Flagler (R2)
 Q49  V38
Posts: 296
Kudos: 213
 [5]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Fistail
Joined: 03 May 2007
Last visit: 14 Mar 2019
Posts: 330
Own Kudos:
1,276
 [1]
Given Kudos: 7
Concentration: Finance, Economics
Schools:University of Chicago, Wharton School
Posts: 330
Kudos: 1,276
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
eyunni
131. As measured by the Commerce Department, corporate profits peaked in the fourth quarter of 1988 and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs.

(A) and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(B) and have slipped since then, the reason being because many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(C) and slipped since then, many companies being unable to pass on higher costs
(D) but, many companies unable to pass on higher costs, they have slipped since then
(E) yet are slipping since then, because many companies were unable to pass on higher costs


A. another error free.

present perfect: have need with since.
User avatar
eyunni
Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Last visit: 25 Sep 2008
Posts: 251
Own Kudos:
Posts: 251
Kudos: 3,270
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Would (C) be right if it is rephrased as

C) and slipped since then, as many companies were unable to pass on higher costs

the other choices remaining the same?
(A) and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(B) and have slipped since then, the reason being because many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(D) but, many companies unable to pass on higher costs, they have slipped since then
(E) yet are slipping since then, because many companies were unable to pass on higher costs
User avatar
TomB
Joined: 18 Sep 2009
Last visit: 05 Jul 2013
Posts: 194
Own Kudos:
2,988
 [3]
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 194
Kudos: 2,988
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
As measured by the Commerce Department, corporate profits peaked in the fourth quarter of 1988 [url]and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs[/url]
A) and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(B) and have slipped since then, the reason being because many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(C) and slipped since then, many companies being unable to pass on higher costs
(D) but, many companies unable to pass on higher costs, they have slipped since then
(E) yet are slipping since then, because many companies were unable to pass on higher costs

I saw this question in many forums, everybody is saying that option A is the answer . The phrases "peaked" and " have sllipped" are not in parallel farm,then it coouldn't be the answer. Among the options the sentences with the usage of "being" is better than the sentences with wrong parallel construction. so , the answer could be option C. please correct me if my reasoning is wrong.
User avatar
lagomez
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Last visit: 18 Sep 2011
Posts: 1,225
Own Kudos:
542
 [3]
Given Kudos: 31
Posts: 1,225
Kudos: 542
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
TomB
As measured by the Commerce Department, corporate profits peaked in the fourth quarter of 1988 [/u]and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs

A) and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(B) and have slipped since then, the reason being because many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(C) and slipped since then, many companies being unable to pass on higher costs
(D) but, many companies unable to pass on higher costs, they have slipped since then
(E) yet are slipping since then, because many companies were unable to pass on higher costs

I saw this question in many forums, everybody is saying that option A is the answer . The phrases "peaked" and " have sllipped" are not in parallel farm,then it coouldn't be the answer. Among the options the sentences with the usage of "being" is better than the sentences with wrong parallel construction. so , the answer could be option C. please correct me if my reasoning is wrong.

The sentence is dealing with time. "profits peaked" past and "have slipped" present as the sentence is saying "have slipped" with an implied continue to slip.
User avatar
vscid
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Last visit: 25 Feb 2011
Posts: 248
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4
Posts: 248
Kudos: 1,107
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
TomB
As measured by the Commerce Department, corporate profits peaked in the fourth quarter of 1988 [url]and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs[/url]
A) and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(B) and have slipped since then, the reason being because many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(C) and slipped since then, many companies being unable to pass on higher costs
(D) but, many companies unable to pass on higher costs, they have slipped since then
(E) yet are slipping since then, because many companies were unable to pass on higher costs

I saw this question in many forums, everybody is saying that option A is the answer . The phrases "peaked" and " have sllipped" are not in parallel farm,then it coouldn't be the answer. Among the options the sentences with the usage of "being" is better than the sentences with wrong parallel construction. so , the answer could be option C. please correct me if my reasoning is wrong.

None of the options make any sense other than A. Besides, 'peaked' indicates that the action is over and 'have slipped' indicates that the action is ongoing, as indicated by the above poster.

On a side-note, please underline your questions. It will help others in viewing the questions and consequently you will get more replies.
User avatar
serhio
Joined: 04 Feb 2009
Last visit: 09 Jun 2011
Posts: 154
Own Kudos:
58
 [4]
Given Kudos: 20
Location: Ukraine
Concentration: Strategy
Schools:Ross 2013
GPA: 3.85
WE 1: Pharmaceutical industry 5 years, C level
Posts: 154
Kudos: 58
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
never, ever and since always go with perfect
User avatar
dimitri92
Joined: 15 Nov 2006
Last visit: 18 May 2019
Posts: 231
Own Kudos:
3,474
 [2]
Given Kudos: 34
Affiliations: SPG
Posts: 231
Kudos: 3,474
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
profit peaked [a past action] .. and have slipped since then [present-perfect; something that started in the past and continues into the present] .. as companies have been unable to pass [present perfect]

here we need to make sure that the above construction is not distorted as presented in the original sentence

since all of other choices distort this contruction and use tenses incorrectly, A is the correct answer

A it is
User avatar
Marcab
Joined: 03 Feb 2011
Last visit: 22 Jan 2021
Posts: 852
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 221
Status:Retaking after 7 years
Location: United States (NY)
Concentration: Finance, Economics
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V39
GPA: 3.75
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V39
Posts: 852
Kudos: 4,775
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
the usage of have slipped coveys the meaning that the profits have been slipping since then.
but in the option a, the additive usage of have slipped since then is making the phrase redundant...
i dnt feel any of the option is correct..
plz correct me if i am wrong
User avatar
Chembeti
Joined: 25 Nov 2011
Last visit: 26 Jun 2012
Posts: 123
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 20
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, General Management
GPA: 3.95
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 123
Kudos: 975
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
siddharthasingh
the usage of have slipped coveys the meaning that the profits have been slipping since then.
but in the option a, the additive usage of have slipped since then is making the phrase redundant...
i dnt feel any of the option is correct..
plz correct me if i am wrong

There is nothing wrong in using the phrase "since then".

Think like this: it is also possible that, they peaked in 4th quarter, were stable for some time and then slipped. But author wanted to rule this out possibility (i.e., author wanted to convey -they peaked and then immediately slipped). For this reason, it looks more appropriate to use the phrase.
User avatar
rajeevrks27
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 26 Aug 2011
Last visit: 24 Jan 2016
Posts: 507
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 264
Status:Enjoying the GMAT journey....
Location: India
Posts: 507
Kudos: 990
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
+1 A
correct II-ism
with since, have is reqd( present perfect tense).
avatar
vaibhav123
Joined: 07 Nov 2011
Last visit: 28 Mar 2012
Posts: 10
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 10
Kudos: 19
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
You have to use the present perfect (have, has) because the event is still continuing ....hence A) is correct :)
User avatar
anilisanil
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Last visit: 04 May 2016
Posts: 75
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 43
Location: United States
WE:Consulting (Telecommunications)
Posts: 75
Kudos: 177
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello guys, why is E wrong? Is it because of usage of "yet".
or is it because of verb tense:
as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs vs as many companies were unable to pass on higher costs

Or is it both?

When to use "yet"?
User avatar
Zarrolou
Joined: 02 Sep 2012
Last visit: 11 Dec 2013
Posts: 848
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 219
Status:Far, far away!
Location: Italy
Concentration: Finance, Entrepreneurship
GPA: 3.8
Posts: 848
Kudos: 5,070
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
anilisanil
Hello guys, why is E wrong? Is it because of usage of "yet".
or is it because of verb tense:
as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs vs as many companies were unable to pass on higher costs

Or is it both?

When to use "yet"?

I would say both.

(E) yet are slipping since then, because many companies were unable to pass on higher costs

The first verb refer to an action that started in the past but continues in the present => past continuos
"are slipping" expresses an action that is happening "continuously" in the present (for a long period of time).
Also "were" is not correct.

You can refer here for the usage of yet
avatar
adiyodishreyas
Joined: 15 Apr 2018
Last visit: 26 Apr 2020
Posts: 2
Own Kudos:
5
 [5]
Given Kudos: 36
Posts: 2
Kudos: 5
 [5]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
(A) and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
Correct.

(B) and have slipped since then, the reason being because many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
Redundancy Error: the reason being because is redundant

(C) and slipped since then, many companies being unable to pass on higher costs
Meaning Error: profits peaked and slipped since then? can profile peak and slip at the same time? I don't think so.

(D) but, many companies unable to pass on higher costs, they have slipped since then
Pronoun ambiguity: they can refer to both companies and profits.

(E) yet are slipping since then, because many companies were unable to pass on higher costs
Verb tense error: are slipping indicates the action is still continuing and many companies were unable indicates that something happened in the past. How can the slipping continue if the reason for it happened in the past and is not currently happening?
User avatar
AliciaSierra
Joined: 17 Mar 2014
Last visit: 14 Jun 2024
Posts: 748
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,350
Products:
Posts: 748
Kudos: 635
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
daagh,

Could you explain why option C is wrong?

I was stuck between A and C and i chose C. C is concise than A and C has same meaning as A has.

As measured by the Commerce Department, corporate profits peaked in the fourth quarter of 1988

(A) and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(C) and slipped since then, many companies being unable to pass on higher costs
avatar
nick0203
Joined: 14 Jan 2019
Last visit: 14 Jan 2019
Posts: 9
Own Kudos:
Posts: 9
Kudos: 1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
B and C can be ruled out because of the unnecessary use of ‘being’.
D is awkward in “but many…they have”
E is not parallel because of ‘slipping’ and ‘were unable’.
A is the best choice.
User avatar
abhishekpasricha
Joined: 07 Nov 2013
Last visit: 08 Jun 2021
Posts: 29
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 475
Location: India
Concentration: Marketing, General Management
GPA: 3.77
WE:Consulting (Consulting)
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ammuseeru
daagh,

Could you explain why option C is wrong?

I was stuck between A and C and i chose C. C is concise than A and C has same meaning as A has.

As measured by the Commerce Department, corporate profits peaked in the fourth quarter of 1988

(A) and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs
(C) and slipped since then, many companies being unable to pass on higher costs

I have the same question as above GMATNinja

Also, one more question: the correct answer "A" is having As X,As Y construction. As X, As Y according to me is used for equal comparison which does not fit according to me.
 1   2   
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7349 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
235 posts