generis wrote:
Despite the Puritan sumptuary laws prohibiting the wearing of bright or elaborate clothing, if you had either a liberal education or an annual income of two hundred pounds one was permitted to display their material prosperity in public.
A) if you had either a liberal education or an annual income of two hundred pounds one was permitted to display their material prosperity in public
B) if one had either a liberal education or annual income of two hundred pounds one was permitted to display their material prosperity in public
C) having either a liberal education or annual income of two hundred pounds would allow one to publicly display their material prosperity
D) those with either a liberal education or an annual income of two hundred pounds were allowed to display their material prosperity in public
E) those having either a liberal education or an annual income of two hundred pounds were permitted their public display of material prosperity
SC62661.01
Verbal Review 2020 NEW QUESTION
this question is an example of what gmat prefer. some point of grammar/style is not explained in grammar books but is prefered by gmat.
why choice E is wrong?
gmat prefer verb "to display" over noun "display". action should be presented by verb not by noun. this way make sentence more direct and clear.
this is the point gmat prefer. we do not need to understand more. choose a choice in which action is presented by verb not by noun.
in short, gmat prefer verb over noun. choose the choice with verb and eliminate the choice with noun.
another explanation of choice E"
choice E can be considered unidiomatic. if the second action is performed by the same subject, "permited to do " is used. if something, not an action, follow the the first verb, "permit something" is used.
The owners have been unwilling to permit the use of their land.
the above sentence is in the Oxford dictionary. the noun "use" show an action but this action is not perform by the subject, so noun , but not verb , is used to show this action.
in short, if the second action is perform by the same subject, "permited to do" is used.
we can not think for a long time this way in the test room. if you face both "permited to do" and "permited something", "permited to do" is normally correct. "permited something" is correct only when the second action is not done by the same subject or when there is no second action.
"we do not allow eating in the room.
above sentence is from oxford dictionary. "eating" show an action which dose not refer to the subject. so , we do not use "to eat". if the second action is also perform by the subject, "to do" is used.
so , be careful about " allow somebody to do". both "allow" and "to do" need to be performed by the same subject.