Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 00:41 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 00:41
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
   1   2   3   
505-555 Level|   Modifiers|   Parallelism|                     
User avatar
TGC
User avatar
Joined: 03 Aug 2012
Last visit: 19 Jul 2017
Posts: 579
Own Kudos:
3,559
 [2]
Given Kudos: 322
Concentration: General Management, General Management
Schools: ISB '16 NUS '17 NTU '17 XLRI SMU '17 IIM Lucknow IPMX'16 (A)
GMAT 1: 630 Q47 V29
GMAT 2: 680 Q50 V32
GPA: 3.7
WE:Information Technology (Finance: Investment Banking)
Schools: ISB '16 NUS '17 NTU '17 XLRI SMU '17 IIM Lucknow IPMX'16 (A)
GMAT 2: 680 Q50 V32
Posts: 579
Kudos: 3,559
 [2]
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 13 Sep 2013, 22:08
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi e-gmat,

Sunspots, vortices of gas associated with strong
electromagnetic activity, are visible as dark spots on
the surface of the Sun but,have never been sighted on
the Sun's poles or equator.
(A) are visible as dark spots on the surface of the
Sun but have never been sighted on
(B) are visible as dark spots that never have been
sighted on the surface of the Sun
(C) appear on the surface of the Sun as dark spots
although never sighted at
(D) appear as dark spots on the surface of the Sun,
although never having been sighted at
(E) appear as dark spots on the Sun's surface,
which have never been sighted on

OG13 in rejecting (C) gives below reasoning:

Although typically introduces a subordinate
clause, which has a subject and a verb,but
here there is no subject and sighted'is not a
complete verb.
avatar
SB0512
avatar
Joined: 20 Feb 2016
Last visit: 12 Oct 2021
Posts: 9
Own Kudos:
6
Given Kudos: 356
Location: United States
Schools: NYU Tech MBA'22 (A) Cornell Tech MBA'22 (A) Kellogg 1Year '22 (A) Darden '23 (WL)
Schools: NYU Tech MBA'22 (A) Cornell Tech MBA'22 (A) Kellogg 1Year '22 (A) Darden '23 (WL)
Posts: 9
Kudos: 6
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 08 May 2017, 00:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi,I have a doubt in Choice D as comma +FANBOYS("BUT" in this case ) is used when you connect two ICs.But in choice D after "comma+ But" we have a Dependent clause. ?

Please clarify..
User avatar
sayantanc2k
User avatar
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Last visit: 09 Dec 2022
Posts: 2,393
Own Kudos:
15,523
 [1]
Given Kudos: 26
Location: Germany
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
WE:Corporate Finance (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
Expert
Expert reply
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
Posts: 2,393
Kudos: 15,523
 [1]
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 08 May 2017, 06:15
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
SB0512
Hi,I have a doubt in Choice D as comma +FANBOYS("BUT" in this case ) is used when you connect two ICs.But in choice D after "comma+ But" we have a Dependent clause. ?

Please clarify..
Show more

Consider the idiom "NOT X, BUT Y". The comma before "BUT" is required for this idiom. The sentence in the subject question has the same structure as this idiom: only instead of "NOT", "NEITHER....NOR..." is used. So here the modified idiom is:

"NEITHER A NOR B, BUT Y".
Thus the comma before "BUT" is required.
User avatar
chesstitans
User avatar
Joined: 12 Dec 2016
Last visit: 20 Nov 2019
Posts: 987
Own Kudos:
1,923
Given Kudos: 2,562
Location: United States
Schools: Stanford '19 Carroll '19 LBS '19
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V33
GPA: 3.64
Schools: Stanford '19 Carroll '19 LBS '19
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V33
Posts: 987
Kudos: 1,923
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 10 Jul 2017, 23:40
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
hello, I want to ask about the idiom despite.
How can I know which idiom of despite is used properly in gmat?
User avatar
sayantanc2k
User avatar
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Last visit: 09 Dec 2022
Posts: 2,393
Own Kudos:
15,523
Given Kudos: 26
Location: Germany
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
WE:Corporate Finance (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
Expert
Expert reply
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
Posts: 2,393
Kudos: 15,523
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 18 Jul 2017, 06:24
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
chesstitans
hello, I want to ask about the idiom despite.
How can I know which idiom of despite is used properly in gmat?
Show more

"Despite" can be used with a concrete noun or a present participle. A gerund is not a good fit for "despite".

"Despite covering the entire planet"... correct ( present participle).
"Despite ist covering the entire planet".. wrong ( gerund)

You will find standard usages of "despite" (and "in spite of") here:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar ... nd-despite
avatar
goalMBA1990
avatar
Joined: 21 Feb 2017
Last visit: 16 Sep 2018
Posts: 48
Own Kudos:
7
Given Kudos: 23
Posts: 48
Kudos: 7
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 02 Sep 2017, 09:44
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sayantanc2k
chesstitans
hello, I want to ask about the idiom despite.
How can I know which idiom of despite is used properly in gmat?

"Despite" can be used with a concrete noun or a present participle. A gerund is not a good fit for "despite".

"Despite covering the entire planet"... correct ( present participle).
"Despite ist covering the entire planet".. wrong ( gerund)

You will find standard usages of "despite" (and "in spite of") here:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar ... nd-despite
Show more


Is usage of "but rather" not redundant?
User avatar
egmat
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 02 Nov 2011
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,108
Own Kudos:
32,884
 [1]
Given Kudos: 700
GMAT Date: 08-19-2020
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 5,108
Kudos: 32,884
 [1]
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 05 Sep 2017, 14:51
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
goalMBA1990


Is usage of "but rather" not redundant?
Show more


Hello goalMBA1990,


I will be glad to help you out with this one. :-)

Redundancy error occurs when two words having the same meaning is used in a sentence to express the same idea. For example:

1. Every year, she donates a good proportion of salary annually to various charities.

2. Although he was sick, but he attended the meeting.

As you can see, in sentence 1, use of every year and annually together leads to redundancy error because both the words convey the same meaning.

Similarly, in sentence 2, use of although and but together leads to redundancy error because both the words suggest contrast.

However, the expression but rather does not lead to redundancy because but presents contrast and rather presents preference.

The expression but rather is correct and idiomatic on GMAT SC.


Hope this helps. :-)
Thanks.
Shraddha
User avatar
Aastha2807
User avatar
Joined: 29 May 2018
Last visit: 06 Dec 2022
Posts: 9
Own Kudos:
58
Given Kudos: 132
Location: India
Schools: CMU MSPM "21 (A) Kellogg 1YR '21 (A)
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39
Schools: CMU MSPM "21 (A) Kellogg 1YR '21 (A)
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39
Posts: 9
Kudos: 58
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 28 Nov 2018, 15:12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi, the first "it" does not have a clearly mentioned precedent, is the option still considered correct?

Although [u]it[/u] covers the entire planet, Earth's crust is neither seamless nor stationary, but rather
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
 [1]
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
 [1]
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 21 May 2019, 07:35
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Aastha2807
Hi, the first "it" does not have a clearly mentioned precedent, is the option still considered correct?

Although [u]it[/u] covers the entire planet, Earth's crust is neither seamless nor stationary, but rather
Show more
Hi Aastha, this is one of those cases where the pronoun is used before the antecedent.

When a pronoun is used as part of introductory modifier (in this case Although it covers the entire planet), the pronoun (it in this case) refers to the noun immediately after the introductory modifier, in this case Earth's crust.

For example:

Although she knows most of the concepts, Aastha was not aware of this specific pronoun rule. :)

Here, she is unambiguously referring to Aastha.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses such cases (where Pronoun is used before the antecedent), its application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
User avatar
mSKR
User avatar
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Last visit: 10 Mar 2024
Posts: 1,290
Own Kudos:
938
Given Kudos: 381
Location: Hong Kong
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
Schools: IE (A) IIML-IPMX '22 (A) HKUST '22
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V29
GPA: 3.81
Schools: IE (A) IIML-IPMX '22 (A) HKUST '22
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V29
Posts: 1,290
Kudos: 938
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 10 Mar 2021, 05:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi AjiteshArun AndrewN EducationAisle EMPOWERgmatVerbal



While solving this question, I had question in mind :
I would like to enquire :
1.) which conjunctions need clause - although? ( Although it is cold outside, I feel warm)
Other examples: even though, though, because, therefore, until, whether, thereby?
2.) which conjunctions need only words or phrases or clause- but? ( It is cold outside but not snowing.
Other examples: Until , because ,etc?
I think replacing 'but' with 'although' will not work.

Question1: How can I know that such constructions would be wrong .
Question2:What are other conjunctions? - Where can I learn such a list?
Question3: Despite, In spite of - are these prepositions ? But In a sentence there placement is similar as conjunctions? How can differentiating Propositions with conjunctions can make difference? Do you have some examples?
E.g. Although it is cold outside, I feel warm
E.g.: In spite of cold outside, I feel warm
(IN other words, do you have some scenarios in which such knowledge made the difference when I need to choose between conjunction or propositions due to some rule)
avatar
AndrewN
avatar
Volunteer Expert
Joined: 16 May 2019
Last visit: 29 Mar 2025
Posts: 3,502
Own Kudos:
7,511
 [1]
Given Kudos: 500
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,502
Kudos: 7,511
 [1]
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 10 Mar 2021, 07:34
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mSKR
Hi AjiteshArun AndrewN EducationAisle EMPOWERgmatVerbal



While solving this question, I had question in mind :
I would like to enquire :
1.) which conjunctions need clause - although? ( Although it is cold outside, I feel warm)
Other examples: even though, though, because, therefore, until, whether, thereby?
2.) which conjunctions need only words or phrases or clause- but? ( It is cold outside but not snowing.
Other examples: Until , because ,etc?
I think replacing 'but' with 'although' will not work.

Question1: How can I know that such constructions would be wrong .
Question2:What are other conjunctions? - Where can I learn such a list?
Question3: Despite, In spite of - are these prepositions ? But In a sentence there placement is similar as conjunctions? How can differentiating Propositions with conjunctions can make difference? Do you have some examples?
E.g. Although it is cold outside, I feel warm
E.g.: In spite of cold outside, I feel warm
(IN other words, do you have some scenarios in which such knowledge made the difference when I need to choose between conjunction or propositions due to some rule)
Show more
I know it can be tempting, mSKR, but I would advise you to stop looking to create absolute rules with grammar. You might take note of general tendencies, but that is all that I think is of use for GMAT™ purposes. If you are interested in conjunctions, learn the FANBOYS acronym (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). If one of those conjunctions works to join two independent clauses in a sentence, then use it. Understand what each one means. Otherwise, you can use a transition word such as although. (By the way, this word does not always require an explicit clause—e.g., Although cold outside, she felt warm and comfortable in her coat.)

Do you have a query about this SC question or its answer choices in particular? If you are just looking for grammar rules, then I would suggest purchasing a guide, such as the one by Manhattan Prep. (I dislike dealing in grammatical certainties.)

- Andrew
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
 [1]
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
 [1]
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 10 Mar 2021, 08:07
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mSKR
Hi AjiteshArun AndrewN EducationAisle EMPOWERgmatVerbal



While solving this question, I had question in mind :
I would like to enquire :
1.) which conjunctions need clause - although? ( Although it is cold outside, I feel warm)
Other examples: even though, though, because, therefore, until, whether, thereby?
2.) which conjunctions need only words or phrases or clause- but? ( It is cold outside but not snowing.
Other examples: Until , because ,etc?
I think replacing 'but' with 'although' will not work.

Question1: How can I know that such constructions would be wrong .
Question2:What are other conjunctions? - Where can I learn such a list?
Question3: Despite, In spite of - are these prepositions ? But In a sentence there placement is similar as conjunctions? How can differentiating Propositions with conjunctions can make difference? Do you have some examples?
E.g. Although it is cold outside, I feel warm
E.g.: In spite of cold outside, I feel warm
(IN other words, do you have some scenarios in which such knowledge made the difference when I need to choose between conjunction or propositions due to some rule)
Show more
Hi mSKR, your question touches upon a wide variety of topics in grammar (clauses/phrases/coordinating conjunctions/subordinating conjunctions etc.).

The entire Grammar section of our book Sentence Correction Nirvana is also available for free preview at pothi, and would provide answers to all/most of the very pertinent questions that you ask.
User avatar
Rasalghul853
User avatar
Joined: 24 Jan 2019
Last visit: 15 Jan 2024
Posts: 148
Own Kudos:
43
Given Kudos: 85
Location: India
Schools: McCombs '25 (S) McDonough '25 (A$)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V39
GPA: 2.81
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: McCombs '25 (S) McDonough '25 (A$)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V39
Posts: 148
Kudos: 43
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 16 Jun 2021, 02:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Option D has "it" in it. Isn't it describing "Earth's" which is an adjective making it wrong? Pronouns should always describe a noun and not an adjective.

Please correct me if I am wrong.
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
 [1]
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
 [1]
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 16 Jun 2021, 02:45
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Rasalghul853
Option D has "it" in it. Isn't it describing "Earth's" which is an adjective making it wrong? Pronouns should always describe a noun and not an adjective.

Please correct me if I am wrong.
Show more
"it" is not referring to "Earth's", but to "Earth's crust". Basically "it" is referring to the "phrase" "Earth's crust".

A simpler example:

Although he works hard, the diligent boy is not consistent.

Again, he does not refer to the diligent, but to the entire noun phrase the diligent boy.
avatar
ag153
avatar
Joined: 16 Feb 2017
Last visit: 15 May 2022
Posts: 88
Own Kudos:
46
Given Kudos: 56
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
Schools: XLRI Columbia CBS '24 Harvard '24 ISB '23 Stanford '24
GPA: 3.69
Schools: XLRI Columbia CBS '24 Harvard '24 ISB '23 Stanford '24
Posts: 88
Kudos: 46
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 18 Jun 2021, 21:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
egmat

Hi TGC,

Let me try to answer your questions.

(1) “Despite” can be followed by a noun or verb-ing modifier. Take the following examples:
a. Despite bad weather. Jane came over for dinner.
b. Despite being the youngest in the group, Bob gave the best answers.

(2) It is NOT ALWAYS necessary for “Although” to be preceded by a clause in order to denote a contrast. For example:

a. Although simple, the outfit stands out in the crowd.

As we can see, “although” here is not followed by a clause. It is just followed by a word – small (an adjective = noun modifier). Now this noun modifier correctly modifies the Subject of the following main clause and hence, presents logical and unambiguous comparison.

So it is not necessary for “Although” to be always followed by a clause.

Now let’s come back to the official sentence and study the correct answer Choice D:

Although it covers the entire planet, Earth's crust is neither seamless nor stationary, but rather fragmented into mobile semirigid plates.

When it comes to parallelism, we must be very careful in identifying the correct parallel list. We first need to identify the correct entities here.

This sentence is presenting a few characteristics of Earth’s crust. It:
a. is neither seamless nor stationary
b. but rather (is) fragmented into mobile semigrid plates.

In this answer choice all these entities are grammatically as well as logically parallel. The choice employs appropriate idioms to use these adjectives correctly to denote the correct comparison.

Note that “is” is not only applicable to “neither seamless not stationary” but also to “rather fragmented”. Here two verb phrases are parallel to each other.

Hope this helps. :-)
Thanks.
Shraddha
Show more



Well pls see the link and pls clarify if although and though or any subordinate markers can be followed by a noun? This link explicitly states that it has rto be followed by a clause. https://www.englishgrammar.org/spite-or ... epositions.
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 20 Jun 2021, 05:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ag153
Well pls see the link and pls clarify if although and though or any subordinate markers can be followed by a noun? This link explicitly states that it has rto be followed by a clause. https://www.englishgrammar.org/spite-or ... epositions.
Show more
Hi ag153, I think you mean to ask:

can any subordinate markers be followed by an Adjective

The answer is yes. This is (what's called as) verb-less clause. For example, following is correct:

Although intelligent, Peter gets nervous in the exam.

Notice that "subordinating conjunction" although is followed by the "adjective" intelligent. The above can be interpreted as:

Although (he is) intelligent, Peter gets nervous in the exam.

Notice that he is intelligent is a clause.
avatar
randarth
avatar
Joined: 21 Mar 2020
Last visit: 24 Jul 2022
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 27
Posts: 19
Kudos: 5
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 05 Jul 2021, 06:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Although it covers the entire planet, Earth's crust is neither seamless nor stationary, but rather IS fragmented into mobile semirigid plates.

The verb after the but is missing in the option D. How is the part after but rather a clause? SHouldnt it be a clause?
User avatar
ArpitJain1997ew
User avatar
Joined: 06 Jun 2022
Last visit: 01 May 2025
Posts: 10
Own Kudos:
1
Given Kudos: 3
Location: India
Schools: NUS '27
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q86 V84 DI76
Schools: NUS '27
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q86 V84 DI76
Posts: 10
Kudos: 1
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 26 Jul 2022, 09:29
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hey,

But and rather together in a sentence is redundent.
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 26 Jul 2022, 10:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
randarth
Although it covers the entire planet, Earth's crust is neither seamless nor stationary, but rather IS fragmented into mobile semirigid plates.

The verb after the but is missing in the option D. How is the part after but rather a clause? SHouldnt it be a clause?
Show more
The structure is:

Earth's crust is -

i) neither seamless nor stationary

but rather

ii) fragmented into mobile semirigid plates

seamless/stationary/fragmented are all adjectives and hence, D presents a parallel structure.
User avatar
capsguy2018
User avatar
Joined: 16 Feb 2021
Last visit: 03 Feb 2023
Posts: 8
Given Kudos: 79
Posts: 8
Kudos: 0
Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not 30 Nov 2022, 11:16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello experts!

Is Despite and Although interchangeable? Is this a case of a split that should not be looked at all?

There is clear issues with all choices but D but would like to know for future questions.

Thanks
   1   2   3   
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7445 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
234 posts
miag
188 posts